St George's part of second major Phase 3 Covid-19 vaccine trial

Published: 29 September 2020

St George's, University of London is participating in the second major phase three Covid-19 vaccine trial in the UK. 

The Phase 3 study will test the safety and effectiveness of a promising new vaccine, developed by US biotechnology company Novavax, across a broad spectrum of people, including those from a variety age groups and backgrounds. Phase 3 studies involve many thousands of people, giving researchers insights into the effects of a vaccine on a much larger population than phase 1 and 2 studies. 

Calling on some of the thousands of volunteers who have joined the fight against Covid-19 through the NHS Vaccine Registry, the phase three trials, which started on 24 September, is the second to commence in the UK and will be undertaken at a number of National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) regional sites across the UK, including at St George's, University of London, as well as in Lancashire, the Midlands, Greater Manchester, Glasgow and Belfast. 

The Vaccine Registry was launched in July to help create a database of people who consent to be contacted by the NHS to take part in clinical studies, to help speed up the development of a safe and effective vaccine. 

Professor Paul Heath, Novavax Phase 3 trial Chief Investigator and Director of the Vaccine Institute at St George’s, University of London, said: 

“This is only the second Phase 3 vaccine trial to be initiated in the UK, and the first Phase 3 trial with the Novavax vaccine anywhere in the world, which shows the importance that has been placed on rapidly finding a solution for this urgent public health need. The vaccine has successfully gone through its early safety trials and we’re extremely encouraged by its performance so far."