Big news that Imutex's Flu-V is now the only Phase III ready universal flu vaccine candidate in the world, but let's not forget that Imutex also has AGS-V which showed promising results in Phase I and will be accounted for in any valuation.
Both vaccine candidates have been described as the 'holy grail'.
Q4 was already looking good, but now...!
Not that we've been short of coverage this week, but great to see Hvivo/ORPH named in this week's BMJ published yesterday:
https://www.bmj.com/content/371/bmj.m4101
Cheers Demon_G, I hadn't seen that.
Has CF announced a new interview this week? I've got down Proactive on Thursday next week, 29th.
The flu vaccine is Phase 3 ready and developed by Imutex, which is to be sold or listed on the Nasdaq by Christmas. ORPH has a 49% share in Imutex, so shareholders will get a cash dividend or shares in the new vehicle when Imutex is divested.
A new article from the FT published just now, doesn't seem to be behind the paywall:
https://www.ft.com/content/6f9e6270-db88-41bc-aacb-7d384cf2f6fe
ICON are pretty acquisitive, wouldn't be surprised if they were interested.
Could still be a question at the end of the press conference about the challenge studies, would make sense given how much coverage there's been today. Fingers crossed...
I think the Independent and the Telegraph have syndicated the original Reuters article before it was amended - the wording on the Independent is pretty much identical to what Reuters originally published.
Agree though - must be an RNS incoming very soon.
The article was updated 15 minutes ago - no longer says ORPH has signed the contract, it says they're in 'advanced talks with the government'.
I know nothing's official until it's RNS'd but it definitely has the feel of a done deal.
CF also said that he is so confident in the safety of Hvivo's challenge study model that he would happily be the first volunteer.
CF has said in the past in response to a question on an investor webinar that it is far safer to get infected with Covid in a lab with a 10 - 20% viral load, compared to getting infected in the community with a viral load of up to 100%. Volunteers are also monitored at all times. CF also mentioned a 'rescue remedy' that can be given to the volunteers in the trial if needed but I don't think he specified which drug this was.
Astra did initially deny involvement when the FT reported it last week
https://uk.reuters.com/article/us-health-coronavirus-vaccine-uk-astraze/astrazeneca-not-involved-in-planned-covid-19-human-challenge-trial-idUSKCN26E2KC
Just received this link by email - https://us02web.zoom.us/rec/play/ktYJepqBrv4N7t7YXEHP1UZ1u5NWgJ856PhUwPrZhmZ7yTZ1R1Jd0f1KtNgnS_LE1r0hQD-VLi6v5vDv.jJKdqCwdEoO85pQZ?startTime=1601397869000
Original FT article mentions that too actually, I missed it first time round.
Coverage on CNBC now too - https://www.cnbc.com/2020/09/23/volunteers-in-the-uk-will-reportedly-be-the-fire-exposed-to-to-speed-up-vaccine-development.html
Very interestingly if Hvivo's 24 bed unit is going to be full, the article says:
"1Day Sooner is launching a campaign this week to get public funding for a biocontainment facility for the studies, big enough to quarantine 100 to 200 volunteers. "
CF stated in the last presentation that they are looking for additional quarantine space.
And Reuters too:
https://uk.mobile.reuters.com/article/amp/idUSKCN26E2DR?__twitter_impression=true
Already getting picked up by other papers https://www.mirror.co.uk/news/politics/uk-deliberately-infect-volunteers-coronavirus-22730802