Search

UK Scientists begin Human trials for new Ebola vaccine

admin 11:23 AM, 2 Feb, 2015

According to an international Ebola Update; Scientists at Oxford University have begun human trials for a new Ebola vaccine.

72 healthy adult volunteers between the ages of 18-50 have begun receiving the drug which was developed by Janssen Pharmaceutical Companies of Johnson and Johnson.

The vaccine was initially tested in monkeys and gave the animals complete protection against Ebola.

Initial tests in monkeys showed the vaccine, developed by Janssen Pharmaceutical Companies of Johnson and Johnson, gave complete protection against Ebola.

According to Dr Matthew Snape of the Oxford Vaccine Group:

“We aim to immunise all participants within a month. The main aim is to understand the safety profile of the vaccines.”

Johnson and Johnson plans to begin a larger Phase 2 trial of the vaccine in Africa and Europe within the next three months and then have the vaccine available for use in Liberia, Guinea and Sierra Leone by the middle of 2015.