- The Global Alliance for Vaccines and Immunisation, Gavi, plans to spend as much as $300M for up to 12 million doses of an Ebola vaccine as soon as the World Health Organization (WHO) recommends one for use. An additional $90M could be used to support countries that introduce the vaccine and to rebuild devastated health systems and restore immunisation services in Ebola-stricken countries.
- Gavi is funded by governments and the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation.
- Two vaccine candidates are currently being tested in humans in Phase 1 trials. The first trial, assessing Merck (MRK +0.8%) and NewLink Genetics' (NLNK -0.8%) candidate, experienced a hiccup recently when four volunteers complained of joint pain in their hands and feet. The trial is on hold as a precaution, but will restart on January 15 contingent on no further adverse events. The second trial, assessing the combination of GlaxoSmithKline's (GSK +0.4%) monovalent cAd3-EBO Z Ebola vaccine candidate with Bavarian Nordic's MVA-BN Filo booster vaccine, has experienced no adverse events to date.
- Johnson & Johnson (JNJ +0.8%) will begin testing its Ebola vaccine candidate in January and says it will have 250K doses for clinical study by May.
- Previously: Merck-NewLink Ebola vaccine trial interrupted (Dec. 11, 2014)
- Previously: Phase 1 underway for Ebola booster vaccine regimen (Dec. 4, 2014)
- Previously: J&J to begin testing Ebola vaccine in January; expects 250K doses ready by May (Oct. 22, 2014)