​Wilmington-based Trial Management Associates LLC, a clinical research management firm that has been involved in Moderna's COVID-19 vaccination trials, will soon start conducting trials for two new coronavirus vaccines in the Wilmington area.

Two different companies, each with their own new vaccine, have selected Trial Management Associates (TMA) to conduct the trials with physicians Bart Williams and Will Jones of Wrightsville Family Practice, according to a news release.

The names of the two firms bringing the new vaccination trials to Wilmington have not yet been disclosed by TMA.

The trials are likely to start sometime in December, officials said.

“We were honored to be a part of the highly successful Moderna vaccine trials, and we are thrilled to announce that we have been selected to carry out trials for two more promising vaccines,” said Phil Dattilo, president of TMA, in the release. “These trials represent an exceptional opportunity for people in our community to not only contribute to the development of coronavirus vaccines, but to also have the chance to receive a vaccine before they become readily available.”

The new studies come as TMA wraps up trial enrollment in Wilmington for Moderna’s coronavirus vaccine, which has been found to have an efficacy rate of 95%.

TMA and Wilmington-based PPD Inc. were involved in Moderna's COVID-19 vaccination trials.

In another vaccine candidate undergoing study, Pfizer and BioNTech have also reached 95% efficacy, according to an announcement made last week after the firms concluded their phase 3 study.

The two new vaccination studies TMA is conducting do not involve Moderna or Pfizer, officials said.

TMA is currently seeking volunteers for the upcoming vaccine trials. 

“TMA’s goal is to bring as many coronavirus vaccine trials to our community until an FDA-approved vaccine is widely available to the Wilmington community and surrounding areas," Dattilo said.

TMA and Wrightsville Family Practice are recruiting healthy study volunteers ages 18 and older from Wilmington and the surrounding communities to participate in the two new trials. They are especially seeking health care workers, first responders and other essential workers who face higher exposure to the virus, stated the release. 

Those looking to participate in the upcoming trials can contact TMA at [email protected], stated the release.