HWGB invests US$1mil in EBI for Phase IV vaccine development

KUALA LUMPUR: Ho Wah Genting Bhd’s (HWGB) wholly-owned subsidiary, HWGB Biotech Sdn Bhd (HWGB Biotech), had invested US$1 million in its joint venture partner, EMO Biology Inc (EBI) to start Phase IV clinical trial for Covid-19 vaccine

after obtained approval from the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA).

“We aim to expedite the clinical trial soonest and hope the research can prove the vaccine’s effectiveness and play our part in the fight against the pandemic,” HWGB chief executive officer Dato’ Aaron Lim said in a statement.

Phase IV clinical trial, which is conducted upon FDA approval, is to collect additional information about side-effects and safety, long-term risks and potential benefits, and/or how well the vaccine works when used widely on several thousand people.

Phase IV can be used to fast-track a vaccine for emergency use. This is also termed as repurposing vaccines which is very common because many effective vaccines are rediscovered from existing approved vaccines.

With the FDA approval in hand, EBI will engage the services of Roderick A. Comunale II MD Inc to conduct a clinical research study.

Further, EBI will also collaborate with America Diagnostic & Genescan Diagnostics Inc to conduct a series of immunology assays in supporting the potential clinic research in the Phase IV research and development.

Source: NST