TORONTO -- A Canadian drugmaker has posted promising Phase 1 trial results for its own COVID-19 vaccine, but is threatening to move its future trials and production out of the country if it doesn鈥檛 receive further support from the federal government.
On Wednesday, Calgary-based Providence Therapeutics released results from its Phase 1 trials of 60 participants aged 18-64 that show 鈥渟trong virus neutralization capability鈥 with no serious side-effects reported, according to a news release.
Participants in the Phase 1 trial were given either a placebo or Providence鈥檚 vaccine in one of three dose sizes. After 28 days, participants given any of the vaccine sizes showed COVID-19 antibodies, while all doses showed 100 per cent COVID-19 鈥渂locking activity鈥 after 42 days.
鈥淲e've always known since Day 1, that we know how to make a good vaccine, we've been doing it for years in cancer,鈥 Brad Sorensen, CEO of Providence Therapeutics, told 麻豆影视.
鈥淲e're extremely happy and vindicated that we've produced this very, very good vaccine and we look forward to going head-to-head against Pfizer and our Phase 2 clinical trial.鈥
The data from Providence Therapeutics has yet to be published or peer reviewed.
Similar to the vaccines from Pfizer-BioNtech and Moderna, Providence鈥檚 vaccine is of the mRNA variety, with two doses of the drug given 28 days apart, but Sorensen believes his vaccine has the edge over the already approved options.
鈥淲e鈥檝e shown on every measurable scale (that) we are equal -- or appear to be superior -- to either one of those vaccines at the same stage during their development,鈥 Sorensen said.
Sorensen said Phase 2 trials are expected to begin in June, with results expected in October. The company is also conducting further Phase 1 trials with different age categories.
To test Sorensen鈥檚 belief that his vaccine is comparable to the others, he鈥檚 asked the federal government to supply him with 500 doses of Pfizer鈥檚 vaccine so the company can compare results, but to date has not received an answer.
Providence is committed to conducting its Phase 2 trials in Canada, but Sorensen said dealing with the federal government has been trying so far, to the point where he is now considering moving future trials outside the country, and to shifting production of the vaccines elsewhere as well.
鈥淭hey've had access to the data that we're sharing publicly for a while now. It was blinded, but it was perfectly clear how good our vaccine was,鈥 he said.
Sorensen said he鈥檚 heard from several countries 鈥 some in Europe and elsewhere -- about the possibility of shifting operations to another locale.
鈥淎t the end of the day, if Canada has no inclination to purchase vaccines that are made in Canada, which they鈥檝e so far given no indication that they're prepared to do that, then why would we spend the resources to seek approval in Canada?鈥 he said.
Sorensen said his Canadian facilities are capable of producing 200 million doses of their vaccine every year, and in a time when the world should be ramping up vaccine administration, that capacity could really help.
鈥淭he world needs more capacity, so we're going to keep making that in Canada as long as the world needs it,鈥 he said. 鈥淲ill we keep that manufacturing in Canada in the long term, after the crisis has passed? I'm not going to make any promises to a country that hasn鈥檛 done anything to support us.鈥
In a statement to CTVNews.ca, a spokesperson for Minister of Innovation, Science and Industry François-Philippe Champagne said the federal government 鈥渞ecognized the potential of Providence Therapeutics鈥 technology and we provided them with significant early financial support to assist in the development of their first-ever vaccine.鈥
The spokesperson said that support included 鈥渦p to $10 million鈥 through two different federal programs.
鈥淢inister Champagne has spoken directly with Providence Therapeutics鈥 CEO and the Chair of their Board of Directors to discuss our continued support for their work as they bring their vaccine candidate through the early stages of development,鈥 the statement said.
It added that the National Research Council recently sent letters to nine firms supported under the Industrial Research Assistance Program, including Providence Therapeutics, 鈥渢o confirm our intention to support their phase 2 trials, as well as to support them through the interim period until they receive the requisite regulatory approvals, to avoid any interruption in their work.
鈥淪ince the beginning of the pandemic, we have been proud to support many promising Canadian vaccine and therapeutic candidates,鈥 the statement said. 鈥淩ecent media reports of Providence Therapeutics leaving Canada are concerning given that any such move could jeopardize their access to ongoing financial support from the federal government.鈥
