On Dec. 10, 2020, ImmunityBio announced its COVID-19 vaccine candidate protected nasal and lung airways of non-human primates against coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2) in a challenge study.

The study, sponsored by the Biomedical Advanced Research & Development Authority (BARDA), provided further evidence supporting the company’s use of a second-generation adenoviral vector that induces the immune system to both activate T cells and generate antibodies against multiple viral targets blocking virus replication and clearing existing infection.