SEATTLE & SALVADOR, Brazil--(BUSINESS WIRE)--HDT Bio Corp., a U.S. developer of immunotherapies for oncology and infectious diseases and SENAI CIMATEC, an important Brazilian education, research, and innovation institute, have dosed the first healthy volunteers in Brazil in a Phase 1 trial of HDT Bio’s RNA COVID-19 vaccine, HDT-301. SENAI CIMATEC will conduct the clinical trial under the name Vaccine RNA MCTI-CIMATEC-HDT. The vaccine uses HDT Bio’s proprietary lipid nanoparticle RNA-delivery technology.
“This clinical trial in Brazil is the second international study to get under way in our efforts to help partners in historically underserved nations fight this pandemic by transferring our unique technology to provide them local control over development, manufacturing and distribution of a COVID-19 RNA vaccine,” said HDT Bio CEO Steve Reed. “The first was in India with our partner Gennova Biopharmaceuticals which has moved the vaccine into Phase 2 and Phase 3 trials.”
HDT Bio has other partnerships for its RNA COVID-19 vaccine, including in South Korea and China. “These partnerships are part of our company’s mission and business strategy aimed at bringing our advanced immunotherapies to underserved nations to help address global health inequities,” Reed explained.
"Through the partnership with HDT Bio Corp., SENAI CIMATEC is incorporating in Brazil the development and qualification for a state-of-the-art technology in an exclusive way, as well as the first clinical study involving an RNA self-amplifying vaccine. This moment can be considered as an important demonstration of the potential of Brazilian science, represented in this study by SENAI CIMATEC,” said President of Federation of Industries of the State of Bahia (Fieb) Ricardo Alban “We also highlight the important funding received through the Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovations (MCTI), which has supported the execution of the initial clinical phases, “Alban added.
“From the clinical studies of the Vaccine RNA MCTI CIMATEC HDT we expect to obtain sufficient data to demonstrate the efficacy and safety of this product to the population. In this way, the development of the Vaccine RNA MCTI CIMATEC HDT represents a crucial milestone for the modernization of the national health system, since it can later be produced in the country itself,” said infectious disease doctor and Principal Investigator of the clinical studies in Brazil Roberto Badaró.
SENAI CIMATEC’s double-blind, placebo-controlled, dose-ranging Phase 1 clinical trial will enroll 90 healthy adult volunteers. The trial will assess the safety, tolerability, and immunogenicity of the vaccine at three dose levels, 1 µg, 5 µg and 25 µg. Safety and tolerability will be the primary endpoints assessed by incidence of adverse events for each dose through 12 months after the vaccination. Scheduled interim evaluations to measure immunogenicity also will be conducted.
HDT Bio’s innovative vaccine, which also will undergo a Phase 1 trial in the U.S., uses its proprietary lipid nanoparticle carrier system for delivery of RNA. The vaccine is significantly different from existing commercially available RNA vaccines in two ways. First, its RNA payload is designed to amplify itself inside the body. As a result, the vaccine activates the immune system at a much lower dose than commercially available vaccines, enhancing safety and reducing manufacturing costs. Second, the RNA attaches to the outside of the nanoparticle delivery system rather than being encapsulated within it, providing for enhanced stability.
ABOUT HDT BIO CORP.
HDT Bio is a biopharmaceutical company dedicated to providing immunotherapies to people around the world, including those in historically underserved areas. The company seeks to harness the body’s immune system to deliver therapies that narrowly target the specific areas of the body where they are needed. HDT Bio’s work focuses on oncological and infectious disease applications. HDT Bio’s founders are world leaders in the development of immune stimulants, including both therapeutics and therapy-enhancing adjuvants. One of the company’s core technologies, RNA/LION™, combines formulation and adjuvant ingredients to stabilize and deliver RNA to the immune system to stimulate responses for therapy or vaccination. http://hdt.bio
ABOUT SENAI CIMATEC
SENAI CIMATEC focuses on higher education, research and innovation for the development of industry. Its manufacturing and technology integrated campus is one of the most advanced centers for education (under graduation, master degree and PhD programs), specialized services, applied research and innovation projects in Brazil. CIMATEC operates in more than 40 different areas of competence, with emphasis on computer technology, engineering, health and biotechnology, with the main objective to support industries, including the Brazilian Industrial Health Complex.. For more information visit: http://www.senaicimatec.com.br/
