Human metapneumovirus (hMPV) is a common respiratory virus that affects people of all age groups, particularly infants, children, the elderly and people with weakened immune systems. It is known to cause respiratory illnesses ranging from mild cold-like symptoms to severe lower respiratory tract infections, such as pneumonia and bronchiolitis. With no specific antiviral treatment or licensed vaccine available currently, hMPV poses a significant public health concern worldwide.
Developing effective vaccines and antiviral therapies against hMPV is a complex task that requires extensive research, clinical trials, and a thorough understanding of the virus's pathogenesis. Traditional methods of testing and evaluating potential treatments can be time-consuming and costly. This is where human challenge studies come into play, offering a valuable tool to expedite the development process while maintaining safety and ethical standards.
Our hMPV Challenge Model
We recently successfully completed our characterisation study for our new human metapneumovirus (hMPV) challenge model, with full results now reported. Our hMPV challenge model is the world’s only contemporary strain hMPV challenge model and uses an A2 strain that was isolated from patient with a recent community acquired infection. The model showcases strong infectivity rates and the induction of symptomatic disease in healthy volunteers. The model can be run in two different ways, depending on the application, either with or without pre-selection of participants based on their pre-existing antibody levels against the challenge virus.
Our data indicate that pre-selection to exclude those with high antibody titres may maximise the incidence of higher levels of disease but also show that the model produces sufficiently robust levels of infection without pre-selection if the goal is to have a study population that more closely mimic those included in field-based vaccine trials. The model is also designed to support the development and testing of antiviral therapies as well as vaccines, thereby addressing the significant unmet medical need for effective interventions against hMPV.
Related Resources
From RSV to hMPV: Building the Next Generation of Respiratory Challenge Models
Controlled Human Infection Model's (CHIM) in your backpack: how Human Challenge Trials support regulatory approval of travel vaccines
Unravelling the hMPV Surge: From Media Attention to Vaccine Development
Why are Biotech’s & Pharma Using Human Challenge Studies for Drug Development?
Tripledemic Takedown: How Human Challenge Trials are Ideal to Expedite Multivalent Vaccine Development
Empowering Next‑Gen Infectious Disease & Vaccine Development
Human Challenge Studies: Their Conduct and Safety Aspects
Human Challenge Trials as a tool in raising funding
UK Life Sciences Sector Plan 2025: What it Means for the Future of Clinical Research
The UK Regulatory Competitiveness in an ever changing world
