Opko Health subsidiary announces EBV vaccine enters Phase I study

ModeX Therapeutics, an Opko Health (OPK) company, announces dosing of the first participant in the Phase I study of an -Barr Virus, EBV, vaccine candidate being developed in collaboration with Merck (MRK), known as MSD outside the United States and Canada. This development triggers an undisclosed cash milestone payment from Merck to ModeX. “EBV infection can cause serious illness and pose long-term risks of cancer and autoimmunity. Through our collaborators at Merck, human trials to advance a novel vaccine candidate have now begun. Our nanoparticle vaccine aims to stimulate protective immunity in patients and prevent these diseases,” said Gary Nabel, M.D., Ph.D., President and Chief Executive Officer of ModeX and Chief Innovation Officer of OPKO.