Glencore has provided a A$725,000 fundinmg injection to the University of Queensland's efforts to develop a vaccine for COVID-19.

UQ's 'Molecular Clamp' project uses technology that ensures the vaccine induces an immune response that recognises and then neutralises the virus.

Yesterday it was announced that a Phase 1 clinical trial involving 120 healthy adult volunteers has begun with the first dose of the COVID-19 vaccine being given at the Brisbane clinic trials specialist, Nucleus Network.

Glencore's funding comes from the company's Community Support Fund, set up earlier this year to assist communities affected by the COVID-19 pandemic.

"We're honoured to support the Australian medical sector's efforts to find a vaccine for COVID-19," a Glencore spokesperson.

"The University of Queensland's research is moving at a great speed and, while there is a way to go before the vaccine can be considered a success, we are seeing some encouraging results. We hope our funding can make a meaningful contribution to these efforts and will be cheering the team on in the weeks and months ahead."

"Philanthropy has played a critical role in our efforts to fast-track an effective vaccine and help save lives across the world," said Professor Paul Young, co-lead of UQ's vaccine project.

"With the support of Glencore, government partners and a community of almost 2,600 donors, we have been able to combine clinical readiness with scale-up manufacturing, reducing the timeframe to a vaccine by up to six months."

in 2019, Glencore contributed more than $6.4 billion to Queensland's economy, providing employment for about 9,230 people across its coal, copper and zinc mining operations.

For further information, please contact:

Media

Corporate

Francis De Rosa
m: +61 417 074 751
e: Francis De Rosa

Agata Graham
m: +61 478 304 345
e: Agata Graham

Coal

Allyn Hamonet
m: +61 418 228 075
e: Allyn Hamonet

North Queensland Metals

Nadine Roberts
m: +61 436 341 650
e: Nadine Roberts

Jemma Schweikert
m: +61 412 126 510
e: Jemma Schweikert

Zinc - McArthur River Mine

Tracy Jones
m: +61 418 251 774
e: Tracy Jones

Notes for editors

Glencore

Glencore is one of the world’s largest global diversified natural resource companies and a major producer and marketer of more than 60 commodities. The Group's operations comprise over 150 mining and metallurgical sites and oil production assets.

With a strong footprint in over 35 countries in both established and emerging regions for natural resources, Glencore's industrial activities are supported by a global network of more than 30 marketing offices.

Glencore's customers are industrial consumers, such as those in the automotive, steel, power generation, battery manufacturing and oil sectors. We also provide financing, logistics and other services to producers and consumers of commodities. Glencore’s companies employ around 160,000 people, including contractors.

Glencore is proud to be a member of the Voluntary Principles on Security and Human Rights and the International Council on Mining and Metals. We are an active participant in the Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative.

Glencore Australia

Glencore has operated in Australia for over 20 years and holds significant interests in a range of commodity industries across all mainland states and the Northern Territory.

We employ about 18,720 people across the coal, copper, zinc, nickel and oil industries.

In 2019, Glencore contributed about $14.8 billion to the regional, state and national economies in Australia. The most significant economic contribution came from core business activities: employing people, sourcing from local communities, and paying taxes to host governments.