hVIVO plc has highlighted a major validation of its clinical capabilities after its client Cidara Therapeutics agreed to be acquired by pharmaceutical giant MSD in a deal worth approximately $9.2 billion.
The transaction shines a spotlight on hVIVO’s contribution to the development of CD388, Cidara’s lead antiviral candidate, which proved central to the acquisition’s investment case. hVIVO generated critical clinical data through a human challenge study in 2023, followed by a large-scale Phase IIb field study during the 2024/2025 flu season.
In a standout achievement, hVIVO enrolled 817 participants for the Phase IIb trial — the highest number ever recruited globally for a study of its kind — further demonstrating the scale and efficiency of its human challenge and field trial platform.
hVIVO also acted as the central Virology Laboratory for both the Phase IIb and Phase III programmes, overseeing complex logistics and delivering key virology assays. The company confirmed that all primary and secondary endpoints were met in the Phase IIb trial, strengthening confidence in CD388’s clinical profile.
Dr Yamin ‘Mo’ Khan, Chief Executive Officer of hVIVO, said: “We congratulate Cidara on this landmark transaction in the infectious disease space with MSD. For hVIVO, this demonstrates that our human challenge trial expertise can indeed lead to significant downstream value creation. It also validates hVIVO’s diversification into field studies and standalone laboratory services, facilitated by our highly efficient patient recruitment and site services along with our extensive infectious disease knowledge and capabilities. We are proud to have supported CD388 from early proof-of-concept through Phase IIb and into Phase III, and we look forward to patients benefitting from this innovative therapy.”
