CAPRISA participates in global COVID-19 vaccine trials
In partnership with the COVID-19 Prevention Network (CoVPN) and in collaboration with pharmaceutical companies CAPRISA is contributing to operation Warp Speed towards a COVID-19 vaccine. CAPRISA is among the many African research groups contributing to global COVID-19 vaccine development and testing.
Under the leadership of Principal Investigators Dr Nivashnee Naicker and Dr Disebo Makhaza, study teams at CAPRISA’s eThekwini and Vulindlela Clinical Research Sites enrolled more than 150 participants into the Janssen ‘Ensemble’ phase 3 trial. Prof Daya Moodley’s team at the Umlazi CRS enrolled more than 250 participants into the Novavax phase 2 trial. Additional trials with the CoVPN and Sanofi-Pasteur, and with Merck are due to start at CAPRISA in early 2021. ‘It is vital for South Africa to be part of the COVID-19 vaccine effort, which will raise awareness among its people and policy makers, and may therefore help to accelerate the rollout of a potential candidate vaccine to help control the pandemic.’ says Dr Nigel Garrett, Head of HIV Pathogenesis and Vaccine Research at CAPRISA.
Photo: Dr Nigel Garrett, Nurse Mpume Khoza, Study Coordinator Bongi Zuma and Counsellor Thembelani Nyathi conducting COVID-19 outreach work in Durban’