Vaccines
Leading the Way to Develop Reference Assays for COVID-19 Vaccines
Advanced Assays and Expertise for SARS-CoV-2 Research
In January 2020, IQVIA Laboratories Vaccines, initiated work on SARS-CoV-2 to rapidly support the global pandemic response. In partnership with UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA), IQVIA Laboratories Vaccines leading scientists developed in vivo models; expressed, purified, and characterized viral proteins; and designed viral and surrogate pseudotyped virus neutralization assays (PNA). Our team produced assays measuring humoral and cellular response to SARS-CoV-2 and its variants to evaluate vaccines and antivirals in all phases, from lead optimization to preclinical through large-scale, advanced clinical.
To date, we initiated collaborations and agreements with the leading large pharma and biotech companies around the world for in vivo, preclinical, and clinical development of:
- mRNA vaccine
- DNA plasmid vaccine
- Live attenuated vaccine
- Non-replicating viral vector
- Protein subunit
- Therapeutic and prophylactic antibodies
- Antivirals marketed for other indications
Winner 2022 ViE Best Central/Specialty Laboratory
- Recognition for Reference Assay Development in the COVID-19 Field
- Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation (BMGF) reference lab for all grantees
- The Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness (CEPI) referral lab for humoral and cellular testing
- World Health Organization (WHO) public statement signatory for collaboration on COVID-19
- UK Health Security Agency strategic partner
- Coronavirus Immunotherapy Consortium for Antibody-Based Therapies (CoVIC) partner
- Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority (BARDA)/Operation Warp Speed COVID-19 Medical Countermeasure Support Service Partner for high-throughput SARS-COV-2 assay development and testing
COVID-19: Timeline of Events
IQVIA Laboratories Vaccines and UKHSA played a determinant role in the struggle against SARS-Cov-2, partnering with multiple multinational pharmaceutical companies, innovative biotechnology companies, governmental and nongovernmental bodies including BMGF, CEPI, and BARDA. We developed reference vaccine and drug efficacy assessment assays and transferred their technology to a network of clinical testing laboratories all over the world.
During these 18 months, IQVIA Laboratories Vaccines and UKHSA supported more than 60 COVID-19-related development projects and testing of more than 50,000 samples per month in BSL-2 and BSL-3 laboratories.
