GSK, Oxford University and Emergent begin Phase I trial of Ebola vaccine candidates

Conducted at the University of Oxford, the trial will investigate the use of a modified vaccinia Ankara (MVA) Ebola Zaire vaccine candidate (MVA EBOZ) as a prime-boost to GSK’s Chimp Adenovirus type 3 (ChAd3) Ebola vaccine candidate.

The UK’s Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) has also granted regulatory approval to begin the trial, which is being conducted by the clinical research group of Professor Adrian Hill of the Jenner Institute.

Around 38 volunteers will be enrolled in the Phase I trial, of which six will receive MVA EBOZ only while the remaining 32 will receive ChAd3-EBO-Z prime followed by MVA EBOZ boost.

Oxford University Jenner Institute director professor Adrian Hill said: "Production of the first ever batch of MVA for a clinical trial using a cell line is a milestone in the development of this important vaccine technology.

"This new process, which will allow very large scale production, will be of value not only for Ebola prevention, but also for a wide range of other disease indications including malaria and tuberculosis vaccination."

As part of this collaboration, Emergent had manufactured the supply of MVA EBOZ to be used in this trial, which is being conducted with support from the Wellcome Trust and the UK Department for International Development.

GSK Vaccines chairman Dr Moncef Slaoui said: "This ChAd3 Ebola candidate vaccine has shown encouraging immune responses and an acceptable safety and reactogenicity profile in ongoing Phase I trials to date.

"Together, these different trials will provide important information about the vaccine and its potential to help combat this or future Ebola outbreaks."

Image: Electron micrograph of an Ebola virus virion. Photo: courtesy of CDC/Cynthia Goldsmith.