Covid-19 vaccine candidate that he sees as having potential as a universal booster of other pandemic shots. ImmunityBio Inc., of which the 68-year-old holds about 13%, is developing a vaccine called hAd5 that’s intended to specifically activate T-cells that scientists believe are a key part of the immune response against Covid.
This quarter, the South African-born biotech tycoon will begin trials in the country, the scene of what he calls a Covid-19 “firestorm" as the delta variant drives a third wave of infections, the peak of which has surpassed two earlier waves.
Most vaccines work to elicit immune proteins called antibodies blocking the spike protein that the coronavirus uses to enter cells.