The University of Queensland (UQ) and CSL has announced that the second and third phases of their UQ-CSL v451 COVID-19 vaccine trial won’t go ahead after some participants returned false positive HIV results.
CSL said there were no adverse events or safety concerns reported in the 216 trial participants but advice from the Federal Government led to the second and third trial phases being scrapped.
A statement from the organisation said there is no possibility that the vaccine causes HIV infection, and routine follow up tests confirmed there was no HIV virus present.
However, the main issue with continuing the vaccine trial was the problems that widespread manufacturing and rollouts would create if HIV testing procedures weren’t overhauled.
UQ vaccine co-lead, Professor Paul Young, said that although it was possible to re-engineer the vaccine, the team did not have the luxury of the time needed.
“I said at the start of vaccine development that there were no guarantees, but what is really encouraging is that the core technology approach we used has passed the major clinical test,” he said.
Professor Young also assured the public the vaccine had proven ‘safe’ and ‘well-tolerated’ and will create a robust platform for future vaccine development.
Delivery of other vaccines increased in response
Prime Minister Scott Morrison addressed the news at a press conference alongside Health Minister Greg Hunt and Department of Health Secretary, Dr Brendan Murphy, saying that the Government would increase its delivery of other vaccines in response.
“We are increasing the production and purchase of AstraZeneca vaccines from 33.8 million to 53.8 million, and we’re increasing our access to the Novavax vaccine from 40 million to 51 million,” he said.
“So that’s an extra 20 million doses of AstraZeneca, and an extra 11 million doses of Novavax. The AstraZeneca vaccines, of course, are manufactured here in Melbourne by CSL.”
“Safety and health – that has always been the starting point for all of our responses when it comes to the COVID-19 pandemic. Having a clear plan. Getting clear advice. Making decisive decisions to ensure that we can put the health interests of Australians first. That lays the platform for the economic recovery that is undertaking right now as we end this year and go into 2021.”
The news came as Victoria continued its 42-streak of no new coronavirus cases, while South Australia notched up 13 days in a row of zero cases.
NSW also recorded no locally acquired cases, but nine were reported in overseas travellers.
