Bavarian Nordic A/S (CPH:BAVA) (OTC:BVNRY), a fully integrated biotechnology company, announced on Tuesday the initiation of the first-in-human trial of MVA-BN WEV, a prophylactic vaccine candidate against the rare, but potentially deadly illness, the equine encephalitis virus.

This programme, which is funded by the US Department of Defence (DOD) Joint Project Manager for Chemical, Biological, Radiation, and Nuclear Medical (JPM CBRN Medical) is a multi-year agreement valued up to USD36m and aims to develop a vaccine against three separate strains of the equine encephalitis virus, Eastern (EEEV), Venezuelan (VEEV) and Western (WEEV), for which there are currently no preventative vaccines available.

According to the company, this phase 1 trial will evaluate the safety, tolerability and immunogenicity of MVA-BN WEV in 45 healthy adults in three treatment groups receiving different doses of the vaccine. Topline results from the study are expected to become available in 2020.

A successful phase 1, based on demonstrating a favourable safety and immunogenicity, could lead to follow-on funding, beyond the initial contract award of USD36m, to support further preclinical, clinical development and manufacturing to support licensure in the US.

Bavarian Nordic is focused on the development of innovative therapies against infectious diseases and cancer.