The International Vaccine Institute (IVI), based in South Korea, has begun clinical development of DuoChol, a new low-cost oral cholera vaccine (OCV) in capsule form. With funding support from the Wellcome Trust and the Swedish government, IVI is preparing to conduct a Phase I clinical trial of the vaccine in Sweden.

Scientists at the University of Gothenburg developed DuoChol, a dry formulation inactivated bacterial whole cell/cholera toxin B subunit OCV with a similar composition as the world’s first WHO-prequalified OCV, DUKORAL.

While DUKORAL as well as the currently available WHO-prequalified low-cost OCVs, Shanchol and Euvichol-Plus, both developed at IVI, are drinkable vaccines, what sets DuoChol apart is its dry formulation in capsule form. This presentation improves the vaccine’s thermostability, meaning the active ingredients remain stable at higher relative temperatures for a longer duration, while also reducing its weight and volume. 

IVI is conducting this study in partnership with Gotovax AB, a biopharmaceutical company spun off from the University of Gothenburg, and Valneva Sweden AB, the Swedish subsidiary of specialty vaccine company Valneva, that was selected to be the contract manufacturing organization (CMO). Valneva will produce DuoChol under good manufacturing practices (GMP) for pre-clinical toxicity testing and the Phase 1 trial.