Phase 1 trials of made-in-Canada Ebola vaccine suggest it’s safe

By

TORONTO (NEWS1130) – The first human studies of a made-in-Canada Ebola vaccine suggest it is safe and triggers a rapid immune response.

The vaccine was designed by scientists at the National Microbiology Laboratory in Winnipeg, which is part of the Public Health Agency of Canada.

Data from six clinical trials conducted in the United States, Switzerland, Germany, Gabon and Kenya are published in this week’s New England Journal of Medicine.

These were Phase 1 trials, which are designed to show if a vaccine or drug is safe enough to use; they are too small to answer the question of whether the product is effective.

Larger Phase 3 trials are underway in West Africa now, and it is hoped they will provide that answer.

But these early studies found that most people who got the vaccine had high levels of antibodies within 14 days, which is quick for a vaccine.

They also found quite a few of the vaccinated people developed side-effects like fever, muscle aches and, in a few cases, arthritis-like joint pain.

However the side-effects were temporary and were not considered serious.

Top Stories

Top Stories

Most Watched Today