COVID-19

IVIJune 5, 20242 Mins read58

COVID-19 is a respiratory illness caused by the novel coronavirus SARS-CoV-2. Common symptoms include fever, dry cough, difficulty breathing, and fatigue, while severe cases may involve respiratory distress, loss of appetite, chest pressure, and high fever. Preventive measures—such as vaccination, wearing masks, and maintaining social distancing—have been crucial in reducing transmission and severity.

The development of COVID-19 vaccines at an unprecedented speed, particularly mRNA-based platforms, marked a revolutionary scientific achievement. First deployed in December 2020, these vaccines are estimated to have saved 20 million lives. However, even more could have been saved if the vaccines were deployed faster and more equitably.

Contributions to COVID-19 vaccine development and delivery

During the COVID-19 pandemic, the International Vaccine Institute partnered with vaccine developers around the world to accelerate multiple safe and effective vaccines as efficiently as possible. It conducted early- and late-stage clinical trials, establishing immune response evaluation systems for vaccines in addition to epidemiological studies and other capacity-building activities. The institute continues to lead and support efforts to develop broadly protective coronavirus vaccines and strengthen global capacity for vaccine evaluation and deployment.

IVI has worked throughout the value chain to enable our global partners in COVID-19 vaccine development:

Supporting the development of COVID-19 vaccine candidates

IVI conducted preclinical studies of multiple COVID-19 vaccine candidates, assessing their immunogenicity using ELISA, wild-type virus neutralization (FRNT), and animal infection models.
IVI continues to conduct immunological analyses in clinical studies to evaluate vaccine efficacy and immune response.
Supported by CEPI, IVI is currently leading a global consortium working on a broadly protective coronavirus vaccine. This project aims to modify an existing mRNA vaccine, already tested against Omicron, Delta, and Alpha variants, to protect against a broader range of coronaviruses.

Conducting clinical trials

IVI supported the development and evaluation of SK bioscience’s GBP510 vaccine, coordinating global trials and, jointly with the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency, analyzing immune responses. This led to the vaccine’s licensure in Korea (June 2022), the United Kingdom (May 2023), and WHO’s emergency use listing (June 2023).
IVI led a Phase III study assessing the efficacy and safety of Sanofi’s monovalent and bivalent SARS-CoV-2 vaccines. The bivalent vaccine, containing both parental and Beta strains, was the first to report efficacy in an Omicron environment. These findings contributed to the European Commission’s approval of the next generation of COVID-19 booster vaccines.

Establishing vaccine evaluation systems

IVI supported WHO’s international standard and reference panel for anti-SARS-CoV-2 antibody, which is crucial for analyzing clinical samples.
In collaboration with the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency, IVI helped develop Korea’s own SARS-CoV-2 antibody reference panel.
IVI, with support from the Korean Ministry of Science and ICT, established systems serology, and is working to identify key immunological biomarkers in COVID-19 vaccines and other vaccine candidates, including invasive non-typhoidal Salmonella and typhoid conjugate vaccines.

Epidemiological and capacity-building studies

IVI conducted an epidemiological and capacity-building project in Madagascar and Mozambique to expand vaccine access and delivery in Africa. The trial in Madagascar—the country’s first-ever clinical trial—significantly strengthened local research capacity. In Mozambique, IVI conducted a Phase IV study on the Sinopharm vaccine, assessing its real-world effectiveness in resource-limited settings and providing critical insights for future vaccination strategies.

By working across the entire vaccine development pipeline in collaboration with partners around the world, IVI has helped accelerate global pandemic response efforts while laying the foundation for improved vaccine preparedness against future outbreaks.