Dec 11 (Reuters) - CSL Ltd CSL.AX :
* UPDATE ON UQ-CSL V451 COVID-19 VACCINE-CSL.AX
* CSL WILL NOT PROGRESS VACCINE CANDIDATE TO PHASE 2/3 CLINICAL TRIALS
* PHASE 1 DATA SHOWED GENERATION OF ANTIBODIES DIRECTED TOWARDS "MOLECULAR CLAMP" COMPONENT OF VACCINE
* PHASE 1 TRIAL WILL CONTINUE, WHERE FURTHER ANALYSIS OF DATA WILL SHOW HOW LONG ANTIBODIES PERSIST
* BLOOD SAMPLES FROM STUDY PARTICIPANTS TESTED AFTER VACCINATION FOUND MOLECULAR CLAMP ANTIBODIES DID CAUSE FALSE POSITIVE ON RANGE OF HIV ASSAYS
* SIGNIFICANT CHANGES WOULD NEED TO BE MADE TO WELL-ESTABLISHED HIV TESTING PROCEDURES IN HEALTHCARE SETTING TO ACCOMMODATE ROLLOUT OF THE VACCINE
* CSL AND AUSTRALIAN GOVERNMENT HAVE AGREED VACCINE DEVELOPMENT WILL NOT PROCEED TO PHASE 2/3 TRIALS
* DOES NOT ANTICIPATE THIS ANNOUNCEMENT WILL HAVE ANY IMPACT ON PREVIOUSLY PROVIDED FINANCIAL GUIDANCE FOR FY2021
* FOLLOWING AGREEMENT WITH AUSTRALIAN GOVERNMENT, CSL WILL NOT PROGRESS VACCINE CANDIDATE TO PHASE 2/3 CLINICAL TRIALS