In a significant step towards addressing the ongoing Ebola Sudan outbreak in Uganda, the first group of participants have received the investigational vaccine candidate developed by IAVI, a nonprofit scientific research organization. This marks a crucial moment in the global fight against the deadly Ebola Sudan virus, as the World Health Organization (WHO) leads the effort in the country’s public health response. The vaccine is being tested in a ring vaccination trial, a strategy known for its success in containing outbreaks of highly contagious diseases.
Uganda is facing its sixth outbreak of the Ebola Sudan virus, which causes hemorrhagic fever with a terrifyingly high fatality rate of up to 50%. Unlike the Ebola Zaire virus, which has vaccines and treatments available, there are no licensed vaccines or therapeutics for Ebola Sudan, making this trial even more critical. The absence of a cross-protective vaccine means that the IAVI candidate could potentially be a game-changer in future Ebola Sudan outbreaks.
The trial is taking place at the Makerere University Lung Institute in Kampala, with WHO prioritizing the evaluation of IAVI’s vaccine candidate, which was already prepositioned in Uganda in preparation for such an emergency. Mark Feinberg, M.D., Ph.D., the president and CEO of IAVI, expressed gratitude for the swift coordination between the WHO, the Ugandan government, and public health partners. He highlighted the remarkable speed at which the vaccine deployment was made possible, with doses readily available in the country just days after the outbreak was reported. This rapid mobilization allowed the public health response to include the evaluation of the vaccine as part of the overall strategy to contain the virus.
The current Ebola Sudan outbreak in Uganda began on January 30, when a health worker tested positive for the virus and tragically passed away in Kampala. As of now, 45 individuals have been identified as contacts of the initial case and are considered at elevated risk of infection. These individuals are being prioritized for inclusion in the ring vaccination trial, which has been shown to be highly effective in containing Ebola outbreaks, as demonstrated in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC).
A study published in the New England Journal of Medicine reaffirmed the success of ring vaccination in controlling Ebola outbreaks, particularly the ERVEBO® vaccine, which is based on the same recombinant vesicular stomatitis virus (rVSV) platform as IAVI’s Ebola Sudan vaccine candidate. ERVEBO® has been licensed in more than a dozen countries, providing a critical reference for the effectiveness of the rVSV platform in managing viral outbreaks.
IAVI’s investigational Ebola Sudan vaccine candidate, developed using the rVSV platform, had previously undergone a Phase 1 clinical trial in the United States in 2023. This study assessed the vaccine in healthy adult volunteers, with promising results indicating that the vaccine was well-tolerated across all dose levels and elicited immune responses in all groups. The next step will be to conduct a Phase 1 study in Africa, where the Ebola Sudan virus poses a constant threat to communities.
In addition to its Ebola Sudan vaccine, IAVI is working on a portfolio of emerging infectious disease vaccines, with a Lassa virus vaccine currently in Phase 2 trials in West Africa. The Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations (CEPI) and the European and Developing Countries Clinical Trials Partnership (EDCTP) are supporting these efforts, reinforcing the importance of global collaboration in addressing public health threats.
This ongoing trial is more than just a step in vaccine development; it is a beacon of hope in the fight against one of the deadliest viruses known to humanity. The efforts of IAVI, WHO, and Uganda’s public health authorities underscore the importance of preparedness and swift action in the face of such devastating outbreaks. As the trial progresses, the world watches closely, hoping that this vaccine could soon offer protection to those at the highest risk and contribute to a future where Ebola Sudan no longer causes fear and devastation.
