Oxford Team Races to Create Ebola Vaccine in Months

Oxford University Scientists Developing New Ebola Vaccine

Scientists at Oxford University are working on an Ebola vaccine that could help manage a deadly outbreak of the disease within months. The current strain of Ebola spreading in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) is known as Bundibugyo, and it has a mortality rate of 30 to 50 per cent among those infected. However, there is currently no proven vaccine available for this particular strain.

The outbreak has already resulted in 750 suspected cases and 177 deaths, with the number of suspected cases tripling in just a week. In response, the Oxford Vaccine Group (OVG) is using the same technology that was used to develop their successful COVID-19 vaccine to create a version specifically targeting the Bundibugyo strain.

This is the second time the Bundibugyo strain has caused an outbreak. The first occurred in Uganda in 2007, and the second in the DRC in 2012, according to the World Health Organisation (WHO). Recently, the WHO upgraded the risk of the current outbreak from \’high\’ to \’very high\’, citing the rapid spread of the virus in the country. While the risk in the wider region is considered high, the international risk remains low.

The reassessment comes after the UN health agency declared a public health emergency of international concern. Despite this, the WHO clarified that the outbreak is not a pandemic.

Professor Teresa Lambe, head of vaccine immunology at the OVG, expressed hope that the outbreak can be controlled quickly without the need for vaccines. However, she emphasized that her team and partners will continue to work on ensuring potential vaccine options are available if needed. She noted that the ability to respond rapidly has been built on years of vaccine research and collaboration with global partners.

The OVG previously tested Ebola vaccines during the 2013-2016 West Africa outbreak, which contributed to the approval of a different Ebola vaccine by the European Medicines Agency in 2020. However, there is no guarantee that the new vaccine will be effective, and animal research and human trials will be necessary to determine its efficacy.

Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, director general of the WHO, described the situation as \”deeply worrisome.\” He reported that 82 cases have been confirmed in the DRC, with almost 750 suspected cases. Seven confirmed and 177 suspected deaths have been recorded, he added.

Earlier in the day, the United Nations allocated $60 million (£44.7 million) from its Central Emergency Response Fund to accelerate the response in the region. The vaccine being developed by UK scientists uses nimble technology known as ChAdOx1, which can be quickly adapted to target different infections. During the pandemic, this technology was used to carry genetic code from the coronavirus, but it has now been modified to include genetic code from the Bundibugyo strain.

The vaccine uses a common cold virus that normally infects chimpanzees but has been genetically engineered to be safe for humans. Researchers use this modified virus to deliver important genetic material about the Bundibugyo Ebola virus to cells, instructing them to recognize and fight off the actual disease. The vaccine does not cause infection or Ebola symptoms, but it trains the immune system to provide protection.

The WHO stated that there is currently no animal data to support the effectiveness of this specific vaccine, but the BBC reported that animal testing is already underway in Oxford. A WHO spokesman said it is possible that doses could be available for clinical trials in two to three months, though there is still a lot of uncertainty.

The Serum Institute of India is prepared to mass-produce the Ebola vaccine once Oxford can supply medical-grade material. Professor Lambe noted that once they receive the starting material, the institute can produce large quantities quickly. She emphasized that people are worried about the outbreak, and while contact tracing and quarantine may be sufficient, the team cannot afford to let their guard down.

There are six species of Ebola virus, but only three cause large outbreaks in people. There is already an approved vaccine for the more common Zaire species of Ebola. However, Ebola vaccines would not be used in mass public vaccination campaigns like during the COVID-19 pandemic. Instead, they would be reserved for individuals most likely to be infected, such as close contacts of cases and healthcare workers treating sick patients.