(Caption) Sabin Vaccine Institute delivered 700 doses of Marburg vaccine to Rwanda on October 5, 2024.
WASHINGTON, Oct. 05, 2024 (Globe Newswire) — The Sabin Vaccine Institute has provided Rwanda with its investigational Marburg vaccine to support the ongoing outbreak response. The first shipment of about 700 doses of the vaccine will be used in trials on frontline workers, including health care workers, who have been hardest hit by the deadly virus.
Mr. Sabin has entered into a clinical trial agreement with the study sponsor, Rwanda Biomedical Center, to provide the investigational dose for the Phase 2 rapid response open-label study. The drug will be administered to approximately 700 high-risk adults, including healthcare providers, at six clinical trial sites in Rwanda following approved protocols. Pending requests from Rwandan authorities and permission from BARDA, Sabin will supply additional vaccines.
There is currently no licensed vaccine or treatment for Marburg disease, and mortality rates can reach up to 88%. Sabin’s single-dose vaccine, based on the cAd3 platform, is in Phase 2 trials in Uganda and Kenya, with no safety concerns reported to date. Results from Phase 1 clinical and non-clinical trials show that the vaccine is safe and induces a rapid and strong immune response.
Rwanda declared an outbreak of Marburg disease on September 27th, and as of October 5th, 46 people had been infected and 12 people had lost their lives. Most cases have occurred among health workers at two facilities in the capital, Kigali, but a small number of cases have spread to several other districts.
Sabin has worked directly with Rwandan authorities and partners since the outbreak began its response.
“We were able to ship the Marburg vaccine doses within seven days of receiving assistance from the Government of Rwanda. We worked with our partners to prepare the shipment, finalize protocols, and meet the necessary regulatory and legal requirements. We moved at lightning speed to secure approval,” he said. Sabin Chief Executive Officer Amy Finnan said: “This rapid emergency response will require dedicated and cooperative individuals and individuals, united by a common purpose to stop the outbreak of a deadly disease and prevent further loss of life. It shows that groups of organizations can achieve remarkable results.”
Dr. Sabin Nsanzimana, Rwanda’s Minister of Health, noted that “in emergencies, successful clinical trials depend on swift, strategic, global partnerships that bring together expertise, resources and innovation.” Today, one week after this Marburg disease outbreak was first identified, we are using scientific tools to protect healthcare workers and other high-risk groups, and to ensure that we can effectively control this virus. is receiving the Sabin Vaccine Institute’s Marburg disease vaccine candidate to advance the disease. Now and in the future. ”
Sabin’s manufacturing partner, Italy-based Raycera, produced the drug substance and produced the filled and completed doses for shipment to Rwanda. “At ReiThera, we believe in the transformative power of global collaboration to advance science and create lasting impact,” said ReiThera CEO Stefano Colloca. “Our partnership with Sabin will develop a lifesaving vaccine against Marburg disease with the shared goal of saving lives and ensuring that even the most vulnerable communities around the world receive critical and equitable protection. It emphasizes our shared commitment to
Outbreaks of the once-rare Marburg virus disease have increased rapidly in Africa in recent years, with outbreaks reported in Tanzania (a neighboring country of Rwanda) and Equatorial Guinea in 2023. Marburg disease, which belongs to the same family of viruses as Ebola, is transmitted to humans from fruit bats and spread from person to person through contact with infected body fluids.
Sabin’s Phase 2 clinical trial for Marburg, which began last year, is currently monitoring participants in Uganda and Kenya, including young adults (ages 18 to 50) and older adults (ages 51 to 70). Interim results are expected to be released next year, and Sabin plans to start a similar Phase 2 trial in the United States next year.
Sabin’s development programs, including clinical trials and manufacturing of clinical trial materials utilized in this gift, are supported by the Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority (BARDA), part of the U.S. Department of State’s Strategic Preparedness and Response Office. Health and Human Services, based on a multi-year contract. BARDA previously owed Sabin $235 million to advance research and development of vaccines against the Sudanese Ebola virus and Marburg virus disease.
In addition to ReiThera and the Government of Rwanda, Mr. Sabin would like to thank all organizations that have contributed to past and current efforts, including CEPI, GSK, IQVIA, kENUP Africa, the National Institutes of Health Vaccine Research Center, WHO, and World Courier. Thank you very much.
About Sabin Vaccine Institute
The Sabin Vaccine Institute is a leading organization that expands vaccine access and global deployment, advances vaccine research and development, and expands vaccine knowledge and innovation. Through partnerships, Sabin is unlocking the potential of vaccines and building a robust ecosystem of funders, innovators, implementers, practitioners, policy makers, and public stakeholders to create a vision of a future free of preventable diseases. We have been promoting this. As a nonprofit organization with 30 years of experience, Sabin is committed to finding lasting solutions and maximizing the benefits of vaccines to all people, no matter who they are or where they live. I’m here. At Sabin, we believe in the power of vaccines to change the world. For more information, visit www.sabin.org and follow X, @SabinVaccine.
Media contact:
Monica Gutman
media relations specialist
Sabin Vaccine Institute
+1 (202) 662-1841
press@sabin.org
A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/2e9400c0-1467-4956-b52d-64891ed3fc1d.
