The Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations (CEPI) has announced a transformative step in vaccine development, with a groundbreaking $6.2 million grant awarded to Afrigen Biologics. The goal? To create the world’s first mRNA-based vaccine for Rift Valley fever (RVF), a potentially deadly viral disease that affects both humans and livestock. This grant, confirmed on January 20, 2025, marks a significant milestone for global health, particularly for Africa, where RVF has historically posed serious health risks.
Afrigen Biologics will collaborate with the International Vaccine Institute (IVI) to push the development of this vaccine from preclinical research to the first stages of human clinical trials, expected to take place in South Africa or another country affected by RVF outbreaks. If successful, this vaccine could offer a crucial new weapon in the fight against the disease, potentially saving lives and improving the continent’s ability to respond to future outbreaks.
Dr. Richard Hatchett, CEO of CEPI, expressed his optimism about the project, stating, “This new research will further strengthen the continent’s future preparedness and response capabilities, thereby enhancing Africa’s vaccine sovereignty and health security.” The hope is that this initiative will not only provide a much-needed solution to the health crisis caused by RVF but will also empower African countries to develop and produce their own vaccines, reducing reliance on foreign aid and boosting local production capacity.
Rift Valley fever, first identified in Kenya’s Rift Valley in the 1930s, is a viral disease that primarily affects animals such as sheep, goats, and cattle. Humans can become infected through direct contact with sick animals or bites from infected mosquitoes. The disease has since spread beyond Africa, with outbreaks recorded in the Middle East and islands in the Indian Ocean, increasing the urgency for new, effective vaccines.
Though the majority of people infected with RVF experience mild symptoms, a small percentage around 1-2% develop the severe hemorrhagic form of the disease. This severe form can result in complications like blindness, seizures, encephalitis, and internal bleeding, and has a staggering mortality rate of up to 50%. Despite the availability of vaccines for animals, no licensed vaccines currently exist for human use. This gap in available treatments has made RVF a priority target for the World Health Organization (WHO) and the African Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC).
The urgency for an effective human vaccine is clear. While no cases of human-to-human transmission of RVF have been reported, the disease’s ability to affect both human and animal populations makes it a critical concern, especially for farmers and rural communities. Vaccines for animals are already in use, but the lack of a vaccine for humans means there is a substantial vulnerability, particularly during outbreaks.
The announcement of the $6.2 million grant comes at a time when no Rift Valley fever cases have been reported in 2024 or 2025, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). However, the absence of cases now does not diminish the risk, especially considering the disease’s history of outbreaks and the increasing unpredictability of viral diseases worldwide. The development of an mRNA-based vaccine, which has shown promise in rapidly responding to other diseases, could revolutionize the approach to RVF and similar viral threats in the future.
This project is not just about tackling an immediate public health concern; it’s about building resilience against future health crises, particularly in Africa. If successful, this vaccine could serve as a critical tool not just for combating RVF but also as a model for vaccine innovation in the region, paving the way for the development of other vaccines that address neglected tropical diseases and emerging pathogens.
As the world continues to grapple with health challenges, the importance of funding and supporting innovative research particularly in regions with high vulnerability to infectious diseases cannot be overstated. The mRNA-based RVF vaccine project offers hope not just for those affected by the disease today, but for the future of vaccine development and global health security.
