EpiVax, an immunology company, is utilising advanced computational tools to accelerate a COVID-19 vaccine candidate for healthcare workers (HCW) into clinical trials in six month, it was reported on Tuesday.

The company has collaborated with GAIA Vaccine Foundation to crowd-source funds for the project and its promise is to make a free license available to developing countries who qualify, in relation to this collaboration.

EPV-CoV19 is a peptide-based, epitope-driven vaccine that can be rapidly and safely produced in most countries. The company's expertise enabled the selection of sequences representing all circulating SARS-CoV-2 genomes that will drive a T cell-mediated immune response, offering HCW with immune system 'body armour', reducing their risk of morbidity and mortality. EPV-CoV19 will enter US clinical trials once funds have been raised.