Walgreens announced a significant project award valued up to $25 million through the Rapid Response Partnership Vehicle (RRPV) to conduct a Phase IV observational clinical study on COVID-19 vaccines. The study, funded by the Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority (BARDA), will assess Correlates of Protection (CoP) to predict vaccine efficacy. This partnership leverages Walgreens’ vast network of community pharmacies to enhance access to clinical trials and representation of diverse populations.
As a key player in the U.S. healthcare system, Walgreens has administered over 90 million COVID-19 vaccinations, demonstrating its capacity for large-scale health initiatives. The BARDA-funded study will utilize select Walgreens community pharmacies as clinical trial sites to evaluate FDA-authorized COVID-19 vaccines' effectiveness. This initiative aims to improve access to clinical research in historically underrepresented communities, further solidifying Walgreens' role in public health advancement.
Ramita Tandon, chief clinical trials officer at Walgreens, emphasized the importance of this collaboration, highlighting Walgreens' trusted relationships with patients and its unique position to support critical research. The study will recruit up to 4,000 participants across 20 retail pharmacy locations, ensuring a diverse and representative study population. Funded under HHS's Project NextGen, this initiative aims to develop new vaccines and therapeutics to address waning immunity and resistance to current and future COVID-19 strains.
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