Canada begins Ebola vaccine trial
Experimental vaccine VSV-EBOV will be tested in a small group of healthy individuals aged 18–65
Canada has begun a Phase I clinical trial of an experimental Ebola vaccine developed over several years at its national microbiology laboratory in Winnipeg, Manitoba.
Using a small group of 40 healthy people, aged 18–65, the VSV-EBOV trial will be led by the Canadian Immunization Research Network (CIRN) and will take place in Halifax, Nova Scotia.
In this trial, jointly funded by the Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR) and the Public Health Agency of Canada (PHAC), the experimental vaccine will be tested to assess its safety, determine the appropriate dosage, and identify any possible side effects.
The trial will also test whether lower doses of the vaccine can induce an immune response and will generate information about the use of the vaccine in older adults. The vaccine does not contain a live Ebola virus and there is no risk that volunteers could contract the Ebola virus through participation in the trials.
The Canadian trial is taking place concurrently with the trials in the US in an effort to move onto further clinical trials in larger populations as quickly as possible. In prior testing, the vaccine showed promising results in animal research.
Trial results are expected early next year. Information from the trials will be shared with the international community as part of the global response to this crisis.
The beginning of the Canadian Phase 1 clinical trials is an important step toward the development of Canada's Ebola vaccine
The Honourable Rona Ambrose, Minister of Health, said: 'Canada remains at the forefront of the global effort to fight this outbreak. The beginning of the Canadian Phase 1 clinical trials is an important step toward the development of Canada's Ebola vaccine – the product of Canadian innovation and hard work. We're confident that, if proven to be safe and effective in humans, it can be used in the near future to prevent the spread of this devastating disease.'
On 3 November, the Canadian Government committed $23.5m to support further research and development of Canada's Ebola vaccine and monoclonal antibody treatments. This funding will be used to support vaccine and treatment clinical trials in West Africa.
The vaccine is also being tested at the Walter Reed Army Institute of Research in Silver Spring and at the National Institutes of Health, both in Maryland, US.
Canada has shipped 800 vials of the VSV-EBOV vaccine to the World Health Organization to help combat the outbreak in West Africa.