Uganda’s Ministry of Health, the World Health Organization (WHO), and partners have launched the first-ever clinical trial for an Ebola vaccine targeting the Sudan species of the virus, marking an unprecedented effort in the rapid deployment of an emergency vaccine trial.
Principal investigators from Makerere University and the Uganda Virus Research Institute (UVRI) coordinated the trial’s swift preparation, taking just four days since the outbreak’s confirmation on January 30.
This vaccine trial is the first to evaluate the clinical efficacy of a vaccine against the Sudan virus.
It is possible, thanks to advanced research preparedness, as well as full compliance with regulatory and ethical standards.
The candidate vaccine, donated by IAVI, was made possible by financial support from WHO, the Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations (CEPI), Canada’s International Development Research Centre (IDRC), the European Commission’s HERA, and the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC).
Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, WHO’s Director-General, highlighted the significance of the trial, emphasizing its role in advancing pandemic preparedness and saving lives during outbreaks.
“This achievement is a testament to the dedication of Uganda’s health workers, researchers, and international collaborators,” he said.
The randomized vaccine trial aims to assess a recombinant vesicular stomatitis virus (rVSV) candidate vaccine’s efficacy in a ring vaccination approach, targeting contacts and contacts of a confirmed Ebola case.
Although promising medical countermeasures are under development, no licensed vaccine currently exists for the Sudan virus species, which makes this trial crucial for controlling the current outbreak and paving the way for future vaccine licensure.
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