Protection against coronaviruses focus of VIDO research

SASKATOON — The Vaccine and Infectious Disease Organization (VIDO) at the University of Saskatchewan (USask) has received approximately $6 million from the Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations (CEPI).

This is CEPI’s first ever award to a Canadian university. The award is part of CEPI’s $200-million program to advance the development of vaccines that provide broad protection against COVID-19 variants and other coronaviruses.

CEPI is a global partnership launched in 2017 to develop vaccines against future epidemics. CEPI’s global membership has representation from all continents and includes public, private, philanthropic and civil society organizations.

“Developing globally accessible vaccines which are broadly protective against COVID-19 variants is imperative for global health security," says Dr. Richard Hatchett, CEO, CEPI,

"Through this new partnership with VIDO we are taking the first steps towards achieving that goal.”

VIDO’s funding will be used to establish proof of concept for new vaccines that are broadly protective against COVID-19 variants and are suitable for use in low- and middle-income countries. The platform involves identifying vaccine targets, vaccine formulation, manufacturing process development and preclinical testing. It can also be adapted to develop vaccines for other coronaviruses as well as future high-consequence infectious diseases that have yet to emerge.

“This significant investment is an endorsement of VIDO’s international role in fighting COVID-19 and future pandemics," says Peter Stoicheff, USask president.

"VIDO’s achievements are just one example of how our university is delivering research the world needs.”

“Even before COVID-19 was declared a pandemic, VIDO’s expert team was the first in Canada to isolate the virus, develop a model of the disease and have a candidate vaccine in pre-clinical testing," Baljit Singh, USask vice-president Research points out.

"Sustained investments in VIDO have enabled it to do the work critical to the development of possible solutions by scientists and organizations from across Canada and around the world.”

Partnering in the project is the Vaccine Formulation Institute (VFI) in Switzerland. VFI developed the Sepivac SWE™ adjuvant in collaboration with its industrial partner Seppic (a company of Air Liquide group).

“The Vaccine Formulation Institute is committed to work with VIDO on this project and contribute to the development of affordable pandemic vaccines by providing our adjuvant and formulation expertise,” says Dr. Nicolas Collin, co-founder and CEO, VFI.

This project builds on COVID-19 research funded by the Government of Canada and the Government of Saskatchewan through Innovation Saskatchewan. VIDO’s COVID-19 vaccine, COVAC-2, is formulated with Sepivac SWE™ and is currently in clinical trials.

“Canada has world-class expertise in vaccine research, thanks in part to the leadership of VIDO and its scientists," says François-Philippe Champagne, minister of Innovation, Science and Industry.

"Today’s announcement will propel Canada to the forefront of vaccine development for COVID-19 variants and strengthen our country’s pandemic preparedness.”

CEPI has a $3.5-billion, five-year plan, which aims to reduce or even eliminate the future risk of pandemics and epidemics.