The major IAVI’s Lassa virus (LASV) vaccine candidate findings from a first-in-human, Phase 1 clinical trial are now on the page of New England Journal of Medicine. The published data elaborates that one dose of the vaccine provokes comprehensive long-standing immune responses and involves a convincing safety profile. The IAVI, the study powered, is a part of a non-profit scientific research organisation establishing antibodies and vaccines for tuberculosis, increasing infectious diseases (EIDs) and HIV.
Following this, no therapeutics or vaccines are licensed against Lassa fever. Lassa fever is an acute viral hemorrhagic illness spured by LASV, which is a reason for several deaths every year throughout West Africa, where the condition is indigenous. The LASV is registered in the World Health Organisation (WHO) Pathogens Prioritisation framework as an important pathogen. A pathogen that requires urgent prototype pathogen research and development for the Arenavirus group.
It’s a main focus for the Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations (CEPI), which invested in the IAVI C102 clinical trial. CEPI is a global collaborator working to leverage the development of vaccines and different biologic countermeasures against pandemic and epidemic challenges so they can reach to wide range of individuals in need.
IAVI C102 involved 114 volunteers from its collaboration for research on infectious diseases and vaccines in Liberia (PREVAIL) clinical trial, with the site situated at Redemption Hospital. The volunteers then received the vaccine candidate under this clinical trial at a placebo or one of the four dose levels. Later, they were followed up on thoroughly for 12 months post-vaccination to examine vaccine safety and influence immune responses.
The investigation of immune responses in the participants was organised at Imperial College London, UK, by a college-based scientist. The principal Investigator at the PREVAIL Redemption site, Dr MARK Kieh, said, “The development of the vaccine to avoid Lassa fever will be a great relief to our society affected by the virus.”
Further, the responses reviving the two branches of the immune system, named cellular and humoral, were found in all dose levels for 12 months post-vaccination. Mainly, the antibodies influenced by vaccination were reacting to different LASV lineages, likely to reach West Africa, indicating the potency for a large shield from a single vaccine. No hearing loss and any vaccine-based extreme uncertain events were detected at the time of study.
Mansi Kadam is a market research writer with over 3 years of experience analyzing trends in the healthcare industry. At Towards Healthcare, she covers innovations in medical sector, sustainability initiatives, and the evolving regulatory landscape.
