Promising phase I Ebola trials
13 May 2016 by Evoluted New Media
Scientists involved in Phase I trials for an Ebola vaccine have described recent results as very promising.
Scientists involved in Phase I trials for an Ebola vaccine have described recent results as very promising.
The trial is being led in Hamburg, with 158 volunteers in total taking part in Germany, Switzerland, Gabon and Kenya. They are being vaccinated with increased doses of the potential vaccine, rVSV-ZEBOV. The vaccine is an attenuated, genetically modified strain of vesicular stomatitis virus, which presents a surface protein of the Ebola virus.
Professor Marylyn Addo, from the German Centre for Infection Research at the University Medical Centre Hamburg Eppendorf, said: “The results for tolerability, safety, and the immune response to the vaccine candidate are very promising. With this, a single vaccine could provide lasting protection against Ebola.”
From the phase I trials, no serious vaccine-related adverse reactions were observed, but there were cases of temporary mild fever and some joint complaints. The antibodies produced by the vaccine were still detectable after six months.
These results are being merged into other trials which are using a previously determined optimal vaccine dose and also focusing on testing children. The US Food and Drug Administration is seeking approval for an Ebola vaccine for early 2017.
All scientists involved are participating in VEBCON, a large group of experts founded by the World Health Organisation, with the aim of rapid and coordinated clinical testing of the Ebola vaccine in Africa.
