Immuno Cure Kicks off Phase IIa Clinical Trial in Hong Kong

(Hong Kong, 21 June 2023) - Immuno Cure BioTech (“Immuno Cure”) is pleased to announce today the initiation of a Phase IIa clinical trial of ICCOV, a COVID-19 DNA vaccine candidate. The clinical trial is initiated by Immuno Cure in collaboration with the University of Hong Kong (“HKU”) and will be conducted in Gleneagles Hospital Hong Kong (“Gleneagles”).

The clinical trial is designed as an open-label study to evaluate the immunogenicity and safety of ICCOV as a booster vaccine in a total of 60 healthy adult volunteers between 18 and 75 years of age.

Immuno Cure has been granted ΗΚ$7.1 million funding under the Clinical Translational Catalyst Programme of the Institute for Translational Research (“ITR”) of the Hong Kong Science and Technology Parks Corporation (“HKSTP”).

“Booster vaccination is essential to provide protection against infectious diseases in both individual and public levels. I hope this clinical trial could provide scientific evidence for future immunization strategy,” said Professor Ivan HUNG Fan-ngai, the Principal Investigator of this clinical trial, Ru Chien & Helen Lieh Professor in Health Sciences Pedagogy, Clinical Professor and Chief of Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine, School of Clinical Medicine, Assistant Dean (Admissions), LKS Faculty of Medicine, the University of Hong Kong (HKUMed).

“We are pleased to be part of this clinical trial and contribute to the efforts to combat the COVID-19 pandemic. We hope that this clinical trial could provide valuable clinical data for future vaccine research to enhance health protection for people,” said Dr Kenneth TSANG, CEO of Gleneagles.

“ICCOV is a DNA vaccine candidate which is designed and developed based on an innovative vaccine technology invented locally in The University of Hong Kong. I hope this clinical trial could strengthen and promote local vaccine research,” said the inventor of the PD1-Enhanced DNA vaccine technology, Professor Zhiwei CHEN, Director of AIDS Institute of HKU and the Principal Scientific Advisor of Immuno Cure.

“The kick-off of this clinical trial is a landmark in Immuno Cure’s vaccine research and development. Research on novel and effective vaccine technologies will enhance our arsenal against cancers and infectious diseases. Immuno Cure will continue to be at the frontier of DNA medicines and innovative immunotherapies,” said Dr Xia JIN, CEO of Immuno Cure.

“The progress of Immuno Cure in reaching this critical milestone is testament to the pioneering vision and collaborative spirit of the Immuno Cure, HKU, and Gleneagles. This is a great showcase of strength for the growing biomedical technology ecosystem at Science Park and the huge potential for Hong Kong as a hub for clinical trial projects and translational medicine,” said Dr Grace LAU, Head of ITR of HKSTP.

Please click here to learn more about the study.

Photo 1: (From left to right) Dr. Xia JIN, CEO of Immuno Cure; Ms. Carol CHOW, Head of Pharmacy, Gleneagles Hospital Hong Kong; Professor Ivan HUNG Fan-ngai, Ru Chien & Helen Lieh Professor in Health Sciences Pedagogy, Clinical Professor and Chief of Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine, School of Clinical Medicine, Assistant Dean (Admissions), LKS Faculty of Medicine, the University of Hong Kong; Dr. Percy CHENG, Chairman of Immuno Cure; Professor Zhiwei CHEN, Director of AIDS Institute of the University of Hong Kong and Principal Scientific Advisor of Immuno Cure; Dr. Grace LAU, Head of Institute for Translational Research, Hong Kong Science and Technology Parks Corporation.