UK-based contract research organization Open Orphan said it is in advanced negotiations with the British government and other partners for a human challenge trial of a COVID-19 vaccine.

Open Orphan subsidiary hVIVO will conduct the UK challenge trial, in which volunteers will be infected with the coronavirus to evaluate the vaccine candidate’s efficacy.

Any challenge trial must first be cleared by the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency, which oversees the safety of medicines in the UK.