VBI Vaccines Selects COVID-19 Vaccine Candidates

Massachusetts-based VBI Vaccines has selected two COVID-19 vaccine candidates for development and expects to launch human clinical testing by the end of the year.

The company chose the candidates, VBI-2901 and VBI-2902, based on preclinical studies in which they generated neutralizing antibodies at rates higher than those seen in convalescent plasma after a single dose.

VBI received a $42 million contract from the Canadian government earlier this month to support its COVID-19 vaccine development program through phase 2 testing.