Aerogen and CanSinoBIO to partner for inhaled delivery of Covid-19 vaccine

CanSinoBIO has signed a development and commercial supply collaboration with Ireland based company Aerogen for the inhaled recombinant Covid-19 vaccine, Convidecia.

Under the partnership, the aerosolised vaccine will use Aerogen’s vibrating mesh aerosol technology for delivery.

The companies have not divulged the financial details of the collaboration.

Convidecia is intended to be directly inhaled through a cup dispenser into the airway of the individual.

This route imitates the SARS-CoV-2 virus’ natural infection pathway and could offer further benefits by inducing mucosal immunity.

According to interim data from CanSinoBIO’s Phase III clinical trials, the vaccine showed a 95.47% efficacy in severe Covid-19 prevention 14 days following administration of a single dose.

As vaccination through the inhaled aerosol route needs a significantly reduced vaccine volume, it offers the capability to inoculate a greater number of individuals in a cost-efficient manner than injectable vaccines.

Aerogen CEO and founder John Power said: “The world has an urgent need for an effective, low cost, globally scalable and globally accessible solution to mass vaccination.

“The pioneering development undertaken by Aerogen and CanSino has resulted in a system that meets all these requirements and with a capacity to vaccinate in the billions.”

CanSinoBio is planning a commercial authorisation application in China.

The company is preparing further clinical trials for other countries.

CanSinoBIO chairman and CEO Dr Xuefeng YU said: “Our partnership with Aerogen started in 2013 and for almost a decade, we’ve been advancing the possibility of aerosol drug delivery.

“It is demonstrated that the aerosolised vaccine can stimulate mucosal immunity and significantly reduce the risk of transmission, which could be a solution to rapidly build mass immune protection and accelerate the end of the pandemic.”

In April, the company announced plans to start trials of its inhaled Covid-19 vaccine.