KU Med, Children’s Mercy will lead regional effort for a COVID-19 vaccine trial
Starting in August, Children’s Mercy Hospital and the University of Kansas Medical Center will lead regional efforts for a clinical trial for a potential COVID-19 vaccine, hospital officials announced Wednesday.
The hospitals will collaborate to test the vaccine AZD1222, which was developed by Oxford University and purchased by AstraZeneca. The trial will be funded by the National Institutes of Health, according to a Children’s Mercy news release.
The phase 2/3 vaccine trial will be available regionally, the release said, in partnership with the KU school of Medicine-Wichita’s Center for Clinical Research.
This vaccine is very exciting,” said Mario Castro, Vice Chair for Clinical and Translational research at KU Med’s department of internal medicine. “There’s been so much thrown at this coronavirus in terms of treatment and prevention, and we ultimately know that the best strategy for this virus is a vaccine.”
The company is seeking 30,000 participants nationwide and 1,500 in the Kansas-Missouri region.
According to the release, the group will be looking for adults over the age of 18 who are considered high-risk for coming into contact with the new coronavirus. Two of every three participants will be given the vaccine, the third will be given the placebo.
Initial studies of the vaccine, the report said, showed that side effects were mild for the 1,000 trial participants.
“We are working to develop and conduct studies to ensure rapid and thorough evaluation of — more — COVID-19 vaccines,” said Barbara Pahud, Research Director of Pediatric Infectious Diseases at Children’s Mercy. “Safety is our No. 1 priority. I would not offer this vaccine if I were not ready to take it myself.”
