Open Orphan signs £5m human flu study contract

Contract research organisation Open Orphan announced on Tuesday that its subsidiary hVIVO has signed a £5m influenza human challenge study contract with an unnamed biotechnology company, developing an antiviral drug for protection against respiratory viral infections.

The AIM-traded firm said the study, which was expected to begin in the second half of 2022, would test and assess the efficacy of a single dosing regimen of the client's antiviral drug with healthy adult volunteers, using the hVIVO influenza human challenge study model.

Conducted at its facilities in London, Open Orphan said it expected the majority of revenues to be recognised in 2022.

“We are delighted to be working with this biotech client to assess the efficacy of their antiviral product which has the potential to be an important treatment against respiratory viral infections, using the hVIVO influenza human challenge study model,” said Open Orphan executive chairman Cathal Friel.

“We have now signed contracts for 95% of our 2022 forecasted revenues.

“This is the fourth influenza human challenge study that we have signed in 2021 and coupled with the contract wins that we have seen in other disease areas, this further underlines the growing interest in respiratory and infectious diseases within the pharmaceutical and biotechnology industries, which we expect to continue over the coming years.”

Additionally, Friel said the continued damaging effects of the Covid-19 pandemic were underlining the need for increased pandemic preparedness in relation to other potential pandemic infectious diseases, such as flu.

“Our expertise in testing vaccines and antivirals against our portfolio of infectious disease human challenge models will be important in ensuring we are prepared for the next, potentially more dangerous pandemic disease.”

At 1532 GMT, shares in Open Orphan were up 9.47% at 23.12p.