As 2021 comes to a close, IVI reflects on the work we’ve accomplished this year in partnership with our global network of collaborators and supporters. From partnering with over two dozen vaccine organizations in Korea and around the world to accelerate COVID-19 vaccines as efficiently and equitably as possible to launching early- and late-stage clinical trials to develop critically needed vaccines for typhoid and Chikungunya, we’ve remained committed to confronting the COVID-19 pandemic and other devastating infectious diseases particularly affecting low- and middle-income countries.

This year, we’ve also significantly expanded our country partnerships with Bangladesh joining IVI as a state party, new agreements with the governments of Nepal and Colombia, and the opening of IVI’s first Collaborating Centers in Ghana and Madagascar. In December, we made the exciting announcement that IVI will establish its first regional office in Sweden, our first office outside of headquarters in Korea.

IVI’s key milestones in 2021

Supported the development of a COVID-19 antibody standard

IVI’s laboratory division helped establish the WHO international standard sera for SARS-CoV-2 to determine the necessary antibody levels for efficacious vaccines and therapeutics.

Started enrolling for a Phase III clinical study of Sanofi’s COVID-19 vaccine candidate in Nepal

IVI is conducting the Nepal study of a global Phase III trial to evaluate the efficacy of Sanofi and GSK’s vaccine candidate targeting the original SARS-CoV-2 virus as well as circulating variants. The trial expects to enroll 4,000 volunteers across 3 study sites in the country and, in addition to generating local data to support the global clinical trial, the study will continue to build capacity and infrastructure for vaccine research and development in Nepal.

Celebrated 20 years of the IVI International Vaccinology Course

The 20th edition of the IVC brought together over 7,350 trainees and 27 faculty members for 5 days of online lectures on a range of topics related to the science of vaccines with a focus on COVID-19. Since its founding in 2000, the IVC has aimed to promote vaccine sustainability in low- and middle-income countries by training early- to mid-year vaccine professionals across the vaccine development spectrum, emphasizing practicality with applied topics in discovery, development, and delivery.

Launched a global Phase 2/3 clinical trial of a Chikungunya vaccine across 5 countries

IVI is advancing clinical development of Bharat Biotech’s BBV87 Chikungunya vaccine through a Phase II/III randomized, controlled trial to evaluate the safety and immunogenicity of a 2-dose regimen of the vaccine in healthy adults at 9 clinical trial sites across 5 countries with endemic Chikungunya. Learn more about the study and the launch of the first trial in Costa Rica here.

Partnered with SK bioscience to accelerate development of “Wave 2” COVID-19 vaccines

IVI is conducting Phase III clinical trials of SK bioscience’s COVID-19 vaccine candidate in 5 countries with the aim of making GBP510 vaccine available worldwide with WHO PQ. This global study is supported by CEPI.

Began a children’s typhoid vaccination campaign in Ghana

IVI and Cambridge University are conducting the first cluster-randomized typhoid study in Africa with Bharat Biotech’s Typbar-TCV® to support the introduction of typhoid conjugate vaccine into routine immunization programs in African countries with endemic typhoid. A total of 23,000 eligible children and adolescents will be vaccinated against typhoid through this study. Learn more here.

Launched a “mix-and-match” study to expand access to COVID-19 vaccines in Africa

IVI began enrollment in Mozambique to evaluate the safety and immunogenicity of mixed schedules of two different approved COVID-19 vaccines. Vaccination schedules where the second dose is not necessarily the same as the first would allow for more flexible immunization programs in the event of vaccine shortages and may potentially elicit broader protective immune responses. Learn more about this study, part of the broader ECOVA project.

Welcomed new state parties and country partnerships

Bangladesh joined IVI as a state party and IVI signed MOUs with the Nepal Health Research Council and Colombia’s Ministry of Health and Social Protection to advance global health research and development.

Established Collaborating Centers in Ghana and Madagascar

With the aim of establishing research and training sites for joint vaccine clinical development and epidemiology projects with long-time partners, IVI opened the KNUST-IVI Collaborating Center in Ghana and the University of Antananarivo-IVI Collaborating Center in Madagascar.

Received the Republic of Korea’s Official Development Assistance Award

IVI was awarded the presidential prize for its contributions to global health, in particular the development and technology transfer of oral cholera vaccine to carry out impactful multilateral ODA projects.

Launched the IVI-SK bioscience Park MahnHoon Award to recognize exceptional contributions in the vaccine field

In partnership with SK bioscience, the award will honor up to two individuals or organizations worldwide for their outstanding achievements in vaccine research, development, and delivery to advance global health.

Signed an agreement with the Swedish Ministry for Foreign Affairs to open IVI’s first regional office in Stockholm

IVI and the Government Offices of Sweden signed a Memorandum of Understanding to establish the office in Stockholm, creating a European hub for global health research and innovation. The regional team will conduct independent and collaborative vaccine research and development projects, engaging the Swedish government, IVI’s other European member countries, as well as partners from the public and private sectors across the region, including a strong partnership with the Karolinska Institute.