On Mar. 26, 2020, iBio announced that immunization studies for its SARS-CoV-2 Virus-Like Particle program (‘IBIO-200’) were proceeding at Texas A&M University System laboratories. The work was being performed as part of the Master Joint Development Agreement established between iBio and TAMUS in 2016.

iBio created its proprietary VLP candidates in just a few weeks using its FastPharming System™. iBio’s researchers then deployed this plant-based expression platform’s rapid production capabilities to deliver VLPs suitable for further development just weeks after the biologics were designed.

“We see strong potential for the IBIO-200 program given that we have both the glycosylated and non-glycosylated iBio VLPs as options for development,” said Dr. James Samuel, Head of the Department of Microbial Pathogenesis and Immunology at Texas A&M University. “We look forward to completing the preclinical immunization studies for iBio to determine the optimal combination of VLP and adjuvant to advance to human clinical trials.”