AdCOVID showed positive preclinical results in studies conducted through ongoing collaborations with the University of Alabama at Birmingham and Saint Louis University.

The data, obtained from K18-hACE2 transgenic mouse models, demonstrated that the candidate provided 100% protection against a lethal challenge of the SARS-CoV-2 virus. All animals that received AdCOVID survived and had no observed weight loss.

Initial immunogenicity analysis suggested that the serum immunoglobulin G (IgG) antibody response against the spike protein was robust. An additional study found that a single dose of AdCOVID resulted in a greater than 1,000-fold reduction in replicating virus in the nasal cavity and respiratory tract following infection with SARS-CoV-2.

Previous studies have demonstrated that serum IgG and respiratory mucosal IgA titers in mice treated with AdCOVID are maintained for at least six months and that memory B cells specific for spike antigen were found in the lymph nodes when assessed five and a half months post-vaccination.

Altimmune recently launched a phase I clinical study of AdCOVID and anticipates having initial results from the trial in the second quarter of 2021.