Ebola virus: Hope stays alive with multiple vaccines under development

Just about two weeks ago, the World Health Organisation (WHO) declared Ebola a Public Health Emergency of International Concern (PHEIC), after hundreds of people were infected and several died in the African country of Congo. The virus, which has claimed thousands of lives in Africa over decades, has unleashed its Bundibugyo strain (BDBV) this time, which does not have approved treatments or vaccines yet. At the moment, there are about 906 cases and 223 suspected deaths, and WHO says the toll will rise. In the meantime, the medical community is also working hard on ways to contain the disease.

Major vaccines under development
A few days ago, the WHO said that the most promising vaccine likely to handle BDBV best is the rVSV Bundibugyo vaccine. It is an experimental vector vaccine developed by the International AIDS Vaccine Initiative. It uses the same technology used to create the 'Ervebo' vaccine, used to treat the 'Zaire' strain of Ebola. It is a single-dose vaccine and also has some mild to moderate side effects - like pain, swelling, headache, fatigue and the like - that appear within 72 hours. According to some reports, it is expected to enter clinical trials by early next year, though a commercial launch will take many more years.

Yet another vaccine is ChAdOx1 Bundibugyo, developed by Oxford University and the Serum Institute of India. Interestingly, it is using the same technology as the Oxford-AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine. Doses could be ready within two to three months for efficacy assessment through a clinical trial, the WHO said, adding that additional animal studies have yet to be conducted. Apparently, experts consider a single dose of the vaccine for contacts of Ebola cases and a two-dose vaccine for high-risk, unexposed groups, including healthcare workers and frontline responders.

Other vaccines
a) Moderna's mRNA-based BDBV vaccine
b) Biopharmaceutical's pan-ebolavirus antibody drug, MBP134
c) Regeneron Pharmaceuticals' antibody drug candidate maftivimab
d) Human monoclonal antibodies isolated from Bundibugyo survivors
e) Gilead Sciences' experimental oral antiviral drug obeldesivir
f) The WHO has recommended a combination therapy using a monoclonal antibody and remdesivir for evaluation.
(With PTI inputs)