- Business
- hVIVO plc operates as a distinguished contract research organization specializing in early-stage pharmaceutical development. The company is at the forefront of testing vaccines and therapeutics for infectious and respiratory ailments through meticulously controlled human challenge clinical trials. Its comprehensive service offerings extend to major pharmaceutical firms, biotechnology companies, governmental bodies, and public health organizations globally. The firm maintains an extensive portfolio of human challenge study models for numerous conditions, including various strains of RSV, influenza, the SARS-CoV-2 Omicron variant, human metapneumovirus, and human rhinovirus. Beyond respiratory illnesses, its expertise encompasses models for asthma, malaria, cough, and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, with ongoing development into bacterial infections such as Bordetella pertussis and viruses like norovirus, dengue, and Zika. In addition to its challenge trial capabilities, hVIVO provides advanced laboratory services through its hLAB brand, offering specialized virology and immunology testing, biomarker analysis, assay development, and secure biobanking. The company also delivers a full spectrum of preclinical and early clinical research support, encompassing first-in-human studies, proof-of-concept trials, and broader clinical field services up to Phase III. Furthermore, it offers expert drug development consultancy, covering critical aspects like chemistry, manufacturing, and controls (CMC), pharmacokinetics (PK), and medical writing to its diverse client base. hVIVO operates state-of-the-art quarantine facilities, including the world’s largest commercial human challenge trial unit in London's Canary Wharf with BSL-3 level pathogen control, alongside a 120-bed capacity across clinical research units in Mannheim and Kiel, Germany. These facilities are bolstered by dedicated recruitment teams that efficiently engage both healthy volunteers and patient populations for studies. The company, formerly known as Open Orphan Plc, officially rebranded to hVIVO plc in October 2022 to reflect its core focus and strengthen its global presence in clinical research. It has recently reported strong financial performance with record revenues and EBITDA in fiscal year 2024, and aims for significant continued growth, supported by strategic acquisitions and the ongoing development of new challenge models. hVIVO is headquartered in London, United Kingdom.