Ebola 'vaccine': Monkeys given long-term protection by immunisation

Human trials are underway for an Ebola vaccine following the success of animal testing, although sustained protection is complex

An vaccine for Ebola may be developed following the success of animal testing (Getty Images)

Scientists may have developed an effective vaccine for the Ebola virus after an experimental immunisation gave monkeys long-term protection from the deadly disease.

Human trials for the experimental jab are underway at the National Institutes of Health in the United States, raising the prospect that the vaccine can be used to help resolve the current Ebola crisis in West Africa.

NIH’s monkey studies show that a single dose of the vaccine can trigger fast protection, but the effect waned unless the animals got a booster shot made a different way, according to research published on Sunday.

It took the tested monkeys five weeks for the immunisation to take effect – which is in line with most other vaccines.

Partial protection is better than none, said Dr Anthony Fauci, director of NIH’s Allergy and Infectious Diseases division. But the goal is long-lasting protection, and so booster shots were also trialled.

The WHO said it will fast-track experimental treatments and vaccines, with the aim of getting results from human trials in November. If the vaccine appears safe and triggers an immune reaction in people, the WHO would look to supplying the shots to health workers in West Africa.

Small animal and human safety studies cannot guarantee that experimental vaccines really work in an outbreak, Fauci said. That's why he emphasizes public health measures such as isolating the sick, quarantine and, especially for health workers, using personal protection equipment.

"Make sure people do what works," he said.

The booster-shot findings illustrate an added complexity to speeding an experimental vaccine into the field. The initial first phase study results would shed light only on that "priming" vaccine made from the chimp cold virus, Fauci said. The poxvirus booster step would be tested later only if scientists decided the initial vaccine was promising enough.

Still, manufacturer GlaxoSmithKline has said it plans to begin manufacturing up to 10,000 doses of the initial NIH-developed vaccine.

Canadian researchers created a similar Ebola vaccine that works in monkeys. Manufacturer NewLink Genetics of Ames, Iowa, said first-stage safety testing in healthy volunteers is set to begin in a few weeks.