The final meeting of the RBDCOV Consortium took place on July 2nd and 3rd at the Representation of the European Commission in Barcelona. After more than four years of intensive work, the RBDCOV Project, in which Vall d’Hebron participates, is approaching its official conclusion on August 31st.

The two-day event was divided into two key moments:the Final Clustering and Policy Event, which focused on lessons learned and strategic approaches, and the Final Consortium Meeting. Key representatives from RBDCOV were invited to engage in insightful discussions alongside other EU-funded projects working under the same call or aligned in mission and vision.

Laura Ferrer, Director of Research and Development (R&D), at HIPRA, emphasized: “The RBDCOV project has been a unique and excellent opportunity to study the Bimervax® vaccine in greater depth in two very different populations: immunocompromised individuals and paediatric patients. Moreover, it has enabled a deeper understanding of the vaccine’s mechanism of action. Above all, it has been a valuable opportunity to collaborate with leading professionals and benefit from their knowledge and expertise.”

The final Clustering and Policy Event

Carlota Martí Niubò, Head of Press at the Representation of the European Commission in Barcelona, opened the event by underlining the importance of initiatives like RBDCOV within the broader EU health research landscape.

The programme featured a focused discussion on key takeaways and strategic approaches, with contributions from Laura Ferrer, Director of R&D at HIPRA, Laura Sesma, Project Management and Health Team Leader at Zabala Innovation, Giorgio Barbareschi, Programme Manager at EATG, and Alain Volny-Anne, Member of the Community Advisory Panel.

A second panel discussion addressed future preparedness, specifically the challenges of conducting clinical trials for emerging COVID-19 variants. Representatives from other EU-funded projects, including ENDVOC (Dr. Adelaida Sarukhan Casamitjana) and VERDI (Prof. Carlo Giaquinto), shared their insights, challenges, and conclusions from their respective initiatives.

The event concluded with a walking dinner and networking session, allowing participants to connect and reflect on the collaborative achievements of the RBDCOV Project.

Building the RBDCOV Legacy: Dissemination and Beyond

The clinical trial was completed successfully, achieving recruitment of 80% of the target population across five different immunosuppressive conditions, with an impressive 95% retention rate at the end of study (EoS). Conducted in ‘special populations’ under the principle of “Not for us without us,” the trial confirmed the excellent safety and tolerability profile of PHH-1V as an alternative to mRNA vaccines, with no safety concerns reported. It is crucial to develop those inclusive clinical trials as the target population of the vaccination campaigns of COVID-19 are specifically the ones that are excluded from the clinical trials.

The vaccine also demonstrated a good immunogenicity profile in most of the immunosuppressive conditions studied. Unique and comprehensive immune analyses were performed, providing valuable insights that can inform both current and future COVID-19 booster vaccination strategies for individuals at higher risk of severe disease.

The RBDCOV Project has concluded that consistent monitoring of SARS-CoV-2 evolution has enabled accurate variant selection for this year’s vaccine adaptation. Looking ahead, the project must complete the regulatory approval for the LP.8.1 Bimervax® adaptation to ensure timely vaccine distribution for the 2025–2026 immunization campaign. Lessons from the project highlight the complexities of conducting clinical trials, particularly among pediatric and immunocompromised populations, as well as the intricate nature of immune response mechanisms.

In parallel, EATG has been conducting a psychosocial study to explore participants’ motivations for joining the trial, assess their understanding of the trial process, document perceived concerns and practical barriers, evaluate overall satisfaction, and identify both good practices and areas for improvement. Findings indicate a broadly positive experience, largely driven by the professionalism and attentiveness of the trial staff—resulting in high levels of trust, respect, and support among participants.

EATG has also led the development of a Toolbox, designed to consolidate and showcase all the resources, tools, and methodologies developed throughout the RBDCOV Project. The objective is to ensure these assets remain accessible and useful for future clinical research initiatives and community engagement efforts.

In parallel, Zabala Innovation has led the production of theRBDCOV Talks podcast series, a communication initiative aimed at increasing public understanding of the project’s outcomes and relevance. Three new episodes are set to launch in August, just before the project concludes.

Finally, over the past few months, project partners have actively participated in scientific conferences, presenting key findings and reinforcing RBDCOV’s impact across the research and public health communities.

About RBDCOV

The RBDCOV project, which aims to test the HIPRA vaccine against COVID-19 in the pediatric population, including adolescents, and in immunocompromised individuals, plays a crucial role in advancing the vaccine.

RBDCOV is one of the projects that are committed to testing and advancing the new vaccine against COVID-19. For this purpose, companies and institutions from five European countries have joined forces to advance collaboratively. The project is led by the biotechnological pharmaceutical company HIPRA and involves the participation of centers in Spain (Vall d’Hebron Institut de Recerca, Irsicaixa, Fundación Lucha contra el SIDA (FLS), IDIBAPS, IDIBGI, ASPHALION, Vinces Consulting, Zabala Innovation), the United Kingdom (Veristat International), Italy (Fondazione Penta), Germany (European AIDS Treatment Group), and Turkey (Metpharm Arastirma Gelistirme Saglik Danismanlik).