On Oct. 30, 2020, Icosavax announced the launch of the companyﾒs COVID-19 vaccine program with preclinical data on the companyﾒs VLP vaccine candidate, IVX-411, which comprises a virus-like particle (VLP) displaying the SARS-CoV-2 receptor-binding domain (RBD) in a highly immunogenic array.

Icosavax also announced that the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation has provided a $10 million grant to support the companyﾒs COVID-19 vaccine program through the first in human Phase 1 clinical trial in young and older adults, expected to initiate in mid-2021. In addition, Icosavax received $6.5 million from Open Philanthropy to support development of the companyﾒs vaccine platform technology and COVID-19 vaccine candidate.