Open Orphan plc announced that hVIVO has signed a $13.4m contract with a US-based biotechnology company to test its novel antiviral candidate using the hVIVO Influenza Human Challenge Study Model. The study is expected to commence in H2 2022 and will be conducted at hVIVO's quarantine facilities in London. The Company expects the majority of revenues to be recognised in 2022. The Company expects to sign an increasing number of contracts in this area as the global pandemic has highlighted the increased investment needed from governments and Big Pharma to develop effective, novel treatments for a range of infectious diseases that have potential to cause the next pandemic. Influenza is one such disease, with emergences of flu pandemics impossible to predict. Symptoms of influenza may be mild or cause severe disease, or in certain cases, death. Influenza is a serious global health threat with an estimated 1 billion cases per year, 3-5 million severe cases and 290,000 - 650,000 deaths per year.