Rwanda Readies for Marburg Trials: Vaccines and Therapeutics on the Way

This weekend, Rwanda will receive experimental vaccines and therapeutics to fight the deadly Marburg virus. These will be used in clinical trials expected to start soon. The virus, similar to Ebola, has caused 41 cases so far, with 12 deaths, mostly among healthcare workers. The government aims to quickly test available options like Gilead Sciences' remdesivir and Mapp Biopharmaceutical’s experimental monoclonal antibody MBP-091.

The United States is supplying doses of vaccine and the monoclonal antibody, developed with BARDA support. The single-dose vaccine was originally created at NIH's Vaccine Research Center and is now being developed by Sabin Vaccine Institute, which will send 700 doses. Other institutions like Oxford University are also working on vaccines. Rwanda’s swift response and health infrastructure make it ready for these trials. The preemptive work by the World Health Organization has prepared the field to respond quickly when outbreaks occur. Partnerships with governments and prepared documentation play crucial roles in expediting trial starts.

Actions