hVIVO signs human challenge trial contract with Inhalon Biopharma
By Josh White
Date: Monday 03 Feb 2025
(Sharecast News) - hVIVO announced on Monday that it has signed a contract with Inhalon Biopharma to conduct a human challenge trial assessing the efficacy of IN-002, an inhaled antiviral candidate for treating respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) infections.
The AIM-traded firm said the trial would be a phase 2a randomised, double-blinded, placebo-controlled study evaluating the safety, pharmacokinetics, and antiviral activity of IN-002 across three dose levels.
hVIVO said it would use its in-house recruitment arm, FluCamp, to enrol healthy volunteers for the study, which was set to begin in the second half of 2026 at the company's quarantine facilities in Canary Wharf.
The majority of the revenue from the contract was expected to be recognised in 2026.
hVIVO said IN-002 was designed to deliver treatment directly into the lungs using Inhalon's patented inhaled antibody platform.
That approach, it said, had the potential to improve RSV treatment by offering faster symptom recovery and better inflammation control.
For infants and young children, the inhaled format could provide a more comfortable and accessible treatment option, supporting a shift towards at-home 'test-and-treat' care for respiratory infections.
"We previously identified the next generation of vaccines and antivirals, including mucosal-based delivery systems, as being a key growth driver for our challenge trial business," said chief executive officer Yamin 'Mo' Khan.
"The contract win strengthens our longer term orderbook, adding to visibility into 2026. Inhalon's IN-002 and its innovative delivery platform could provide a novel way to combat RSV infections.
"The study is also notable for including three dosing arms - further supporting the trend of biopharma companies looking to obtain greater actionable insights into their candidates earlier to help inform later-stage field trials."
At 1049 GMT, shares in hVIVO were down 1.24% at 19.01p.
Reporting by Josh White for Sharecast.com.
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