COVID UQ Still Forging Ahead With Clamp Technology Vaccine

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The University of Queensland's re-engineered clamp technology, known as Clamp2, is set for human trials next year after addressing issues with false positives in HIV tests. The improved technology, supported by an $8.5 million investment from CEP, will be manufactured at UQ's National Biologics Facility. Preclinical testing indicates that Clamp2 is effective, producing stabilised antigens and strong immune responses across various virus families, including SARS-CoV-2. The focus is not on rushing a new COVID vaccine to market but on developing a robust Australian rapid response vaccine pipeline for future pandemics. This advancement aims to enhance pandemic preparedness and vaccine development capabilities.
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Precis of a news report from today's Courier Mail.

The University of Queensland clamp technology knocked out because it gave false positives to HIV tests is set for human trials early next year. Scientists have re-engineered the clamp, dubbed Clamp2, so there is no diagnostic interference. CEP provided $8.5m to support the development of the improved technology.

The Clamp2 vaccine will be manufactured at the National Biologics Facility at UQ.

Keith Chappell, UQ’s Rapid Response Vaccine co-leader, said preclinical testing has shown the Clamp2 platform was meeting all expectations, producing stabilised antigens and inducing strong neutralising immune responses. “We have validated the Clamp2 platform in the laboratory. It is equivalent to the original vaccine across multiple virus families, including the influenza virus, Nipah virus and SARS- CoV-2.

Professor Dan Watterson, who spearheaded the successful Clamp2 redesign, said it was important for people to understand the ultimate aim was not to rush a new Covid vaccine to market. “This is about the role this technology could play in safeguarding against future pandemics and ensuring we have an Australian-based rapid response vaccine pipeline.

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