Verily Partners with Janssen to Launch COVID-19 Immune Response Study

Verily, an Alphabet company, is partnering with Janssen Research & Development LLC (Janssen) to launch a COVID-19 Immune Response Study as part of Verily’s Project Baseline. The study aims to collect detailed information about how the coronavirus affects the immune system immediately after someone tests positive for COVID-19.

“COVID-19 is impacting millions of people worldwide from all different backgrounds and health statuses,” said Jessica Mega, MD, MPH, Chief Medical and Scientific Officer, Verily. “We are pleased to partner with Janssen to conduct this important exploratory study which will focus on determining viral-induced immune response across different populations. We anticipate learnings from the study will help to better inform future treatment and prevention practices as the world continues to fight this devastating pandemic.”

The prospective, exploratory study aims to enroll individuals confirmed positive for SARS-CoV-2 who will participate from home. The study will collect biological measurements, clinical and epidemiological data at the time of COVID-19 testing to characterize longitudinal molecular and/or immunological signatures associated with progression of disease resulting from SARS-CoV-2 infection over 28 days.

“Acute respiratory distress syndrome caused by SARS-COV-2 and other viral and bacterial pathogens carries with it a high mortality rate, and more than 2.2 million people will suffer each year as a result,” said James Merson, PhD, Global head of Infectious Diseases R&D, Janssen. “Since immune response patterns observed in COVID-19 patients are similar to those caused by other respiratory pathogens, it is our hope to apply the findings from this study beyond COVID-19 to other illnesses that carry a high patient burden.”

“There is a critical need for studies to identify biomarkers and potential signals which will enable clinicians the ability to make evidence-based treatment decisions, allocate resources and facilitate more meaningful conversations with patients and families about the anticipated disease trajectory,” said Faith Holmes, MD, FAAFP, AAHPM, and primary investigator of the study. “This study will have the ability to contribute to a myriad of future studies to shed some light on these issues.”

Real-world data may be collected from participants spanning from up to two years prior to study participation, during active study visits, and up to two years following the last study assessment. For additional information, please visit projectbaseline.com.