The COVID-19 vaccine created at Saskatoon’s VIDO-InterVac facility has received Health Canada approval to move to initiate Phase 1 clinical vaccine trial.

VIDO Director and CEO Dr. Voker Gerdts says this is the first of their two COVID-19 subunit vaccines in development. Officials explain that subunit-based vaccines are a proven technology that has been used in many commercially available vaccines—including for hepatitis, diphtheria, and whooping cough – that are well-established vaccines considered relatively stable and have not required ultra cold storage temperatures.

The authorization from Health Canada enables the Canadian Center for Vaccinology in Halifax to start recruiting volunteers for the first Phase 1 clinical trial. Those volunteers are expected to be vaccinated in January. Dr. Gerdts says if all goes well with the trials and in obtaining regulatory approvals, VIDO expects to have at least one of its vaccines ready for use by late 2021.

The Vaccine and Infectious Disease Organization is located on the University of Saskatchewan campus.