Vaccines and infectious diseases

Meridian is a leader in high-volume vaccine trials and research programs that require hard-to-reach patients.

The majority of the world’s leading Sponsors and CROs have made Meridian a strategic partner for their infectious disease research programs. Meridian provides a broad national footprint to support rapid enrollment, even for studies involving sensitive cohorts (e.g., seniors, children, at-risk populations).

Several of Meridian’s principal investigators are also sought after by Sponsors and CROs to guide vaccine-related protocol development. These investigators have had research published in prestigious industry journals, including Vaccine.

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Vaccine clinical trials conducted

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Average enrollment for vaccine trials

k
Participants enrolled into vaccine trials

Therapeutic experience

Anthrax
C. difficile
Cytomegalovirus (CMV)
Dengue fever
Ebola
H1N1 influenza
H5N1 influenza
Herpes
Human Metapneumovirus (hMPV)
Human papillomavirus (HPV)

Influenza, including pediatric, geriatric, and off-season
Japanese encephalitis
Lyme disease
Meningococcal
Parainfluenza
Pediatric meningitis
Pediatric influenza
Plague
Pneumococcal

Rabies
Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), including maternal and pediatric
SARS-CoV-2 (the coronavirus that causes COVID-19)
Smallpox
Type 3 (PIV3)/RSV combo
West Nile virus
Zika virus

Types of vaccine trials conducted

COVID-19 clinical trial performance

In 2020, Meridian supported 30 Phase 2 and 3 trials for vaccines, prophylaxes, diagnostics, and medications.

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COVID-19 vaccine trial patients enrolled

Milestones

Brandon Essink, MD, CPI, Meridian Principal Investigator and Medical Director, served as a Co-Principal Investigator for Moderna’s Phase 3 COVID-19 vaccine clinical trial.
Enrolled the first patient into a Phase 2 COVID-19 vaccine trial in the U.S.: Keith Vrbicky, MD, Meridian Principal Investigator in Norfolk, NE.
Enrolled the first patient into a Phase 3 COVID-19 vaccine trial in the U.S.: Paul Bradley, MD, Meridian Principal Investigator in Savannah, GA.
In July 2020, leaders of the Operation Warp Speed (OWS) program visited Meridian’s internal medicine site in Savannah, GA. Visitors included Dr. Moncef Slaoui, chief scientific advisor, and General Gustave F. Perna, chief operating officer, of OWS.

In October 2020, Officials from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) held a roundtable with Meridian leaders to discuss the patient recruitment efforts and the research Meridian conducted for COVID-19 vaccine clinical trials nationwide.
Meridian won the 2020 Vaccine Industry Excellence (ViE) awards for Best Clinical Trial Site and Best Clinical Trial Network (the latter as the largest member of Platinum Research Network).
Sponsors selected several Meridian investigators and sites to be featured in national press coverage (e.g., ABC Nightly News, NBC Nightly News, CNN, New York Times)

The proven site network for novel vaccine research programs

Across any indication, including anti-infectives and immunologics, Meridian is prepared to support your research program for a novel vaccine, diagnostic, or combination product.

In-house monitoring, quality assurance, and audit support

Government-funded, Phase I, and first-in-human trial experience

PBMC processing capabilities and central laboratory support

2020 Vaccine Industry Excellence (ViE) award winner for Best Clinical Trial Site, Best Clinical Trial Network

Featured vaccine investigators

Brandon Essink, MD, CPI

Meridian Medical Director and Principal Investigator since 2003
Frequently selected to lead pioneering vaccine research programs
Results from clinical studies frequently published in industry journals (recently in Vaccine)

Keith Vrbicky, MD

Meridian Principal Investigator since 2013 in Norfolk, NE
Highly-respected physician in his region; frequently published for expertise in maternal vaccination trials
Sought after speaker, prominent figure in research for women's health, pediatrics, vaccines
Delivered 12,000+ babies

Connect with Andrew Kimball, VP, Business Development at Meridian

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