WHO recommends trial of licensed Ebola vaccine, Ervebo
WHO recommends trial of licensed Ebola vaccine, Ervebo
World Health Organisation (WHO) vaccine experts on Friday recommended a full-scale human trial of the only licensed Ebola vaccine, Ervebo, to determine whether it can provide cross-protection against the deadly Bundibugyo strain amid a rapidly worsening outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo.
The recommendation came after the WHO Technical Advisory Group on Candidate Vaccine Prioritisation (TAG-CVP) reviewed new evidence on Ervebo’s potential effectiveness against Bundibugyo virus disease.
The DRC has reported 4,053 confirmed cases and 1,850 deaths since the outbreak was declared a Public Health Emergency of International Concern on May 16, according to government data.
The outbreak has spread across 53 health zones in five provinces: Ituri, North Kivu, South Kivu, Haut-Uele and Tshopo. Ituri, the epicentre of the outbreak, accounts for about 87 percent of reported cases, while neighbouring North Kivu accounts for about 11 percent.
“The members recommended Ervebo, the only licensed Ebola vaccine, be prioritised for inclusion in a randomised clinical trial in the context of the ongoing outbreak,” the statement read in part.
The advisory group recommended that Ervebo be prioritised for inclusion in a Phase 3 randomised clinical trial in the context of the ongoing outbreak.
The recommendation followed preliminary findings from animal studies suggesting that Ervebo could offer some cross-protection against Bundibugyo virus, particularly against death.
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In one study, three of four non-human primates vaccinated with Ervebo survived exposure to Bundibugyo virus, compared with one of four animals in the control group.
An unpublished ferret study also found that a research-grade version of the vaccine provided 100 percent protection, while all control animals died within 10 days of exposure.
However, the experts cautioned that expectations should be managed, noting that the vaccine may not provide high protection against symptomatic disease or transmission, although it could help prevent fatal outcomes.
The group stressed that a vaccine specifically developed against Bundibugyo remains the preferred option. However, existing Bundibugyo vaccine candidates are not yet ready for use in the current outbreak.
Two potential Bundibugyo vaccines are in early-stage human clinical trials, while a third candidate is being developed.
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