Toronto to ramp up COVID-19 vaccine clinic operations in response to Omicron plans
Toronto to ramp up COVID-19 vaccine clinic operations in response to Omicron plans
Toronto to ramp up COVID-19 vaccine clinic operations in response to Omicron plans
TORONTO – The federal government is planning to ramp up its COVID-19 vaccine clinic operations here in response to an experimental vaccine program developed by Cambridge, Massachusetts-based Omicron Therapeutics.
The company’s experimental vaccine developed an antibody that binds to the COVID-19 S protein. It’s designed to be used in humans.
The company hopes to give the vaccine to up to 100,000 patients in the U.S., where roughly 28,000 of them are confirmed to be positive for the coronavirus.
“We’ve made significant progress, but there is still work to be done,” says Omicron President John J. Cascio.
“There is a very high bar that we have to reach to prove that our vaccine is as effective as the other vaccine options that are on the market today,” Cascio adds.
The company is now in Phase Ib studies in humans, which means that the experimental vaccine is being evaluated for safety. In addition, the trial is a double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled study.
The trial is expected to show that the antibody boosts the immune system to be able to fight off the coronavirus and that the antibody reduces the severity of COVID-19 in humans by at least two days.
Ontario says it’s ready as well. While the province is not running the trial, it is committed to the experimental vaccine.
“The government will engage with the company and all stakeholders in the development of a potential vaccine and we have committed to expediting the trial and providing the vaccine for those who need it,” says Minister of Health Christine Elliott.
“As the trial proceeds, we will continue to engage with the company to explore the potential of this vaccine as a potential treatment for patients,” she adds.
The new study is expected to complete enrollment by June 15.
Cascio says patients are required to sign an informed consent document, which includes a waiver of consent for the participation in the study, to be eligible for the experimental vaccine.
