NK - NantKwest gains 16% on COVID-19 vaccine data in monkeys

NantKwest (NK) rises 16% premarket after its partner ImmunityBio announced results from the Challenge study evaluating, hAd5 T-Cell COVID-19 vaccine candidate.BARDA-sponsored study shows second-generation hAd5 vaccine candidate in both subcutaneous and oral formulations inhibits SARS-CoV-2 virus replication to undetectable levels and clears infection within days in 100% of vaccinated non-human primates.The second-generation human adenovirus vector hAd5, which delivers both outer spike ((S)) and inner nucleocapsid ((N)) antigens, induced T cells to provide protection and antibodies leading to reduction of SARS-CoV-2 viruses in both lungs and nasal passages within seven days.Pending discussions with the FDA, the oral vaccine will enter Phase I trials as a prime and boost, and will be explored to provide a boost to subcutaneous vaccinations. ImmunityBio’s hAd5-COVID-19 vaccine was determined to be well tolerated.The vaccine generated robust neutralizing antibody activity that was present 14 days post-final vaccination.Both vaccination regimens resulted in complete protection from subsequent viral ‘challenge’ as

For further details see:

NantKwest gains 16% on COVID-19 vaccine data in monkeys