CEPI Awards Contract Worth up to $36 million to Profectus BioSciences and Emergent BioSolutions to Develop Lassa Virus Vaccine
OSLO, Norway, BALTIMORE and GAITHERSBURG, Md.,
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Under the terms of the Framework Partnering Agreement for the collaboration among the three parties, Profectus will receive development funding from CEPI for advancing its Lassa virus vaccine. CEPI will provide
Lassa virus infection—a single-stranded RNA virus belonging to the family Arenaviridae—can cause the acute viral hemorrhagic illness known as Lassa fever. First described in the 1950s, the virus was identified in 1969 after two missionary nurses died from the disease in the Nigerian town of Lassa.2 The virus is spread to humans via contact with food or household items that have been contaminated with urine or feces from Mastomys rats. Person-to-person transmission occurs in both community and healthcare settings, where the virus can spread via contaminated medical equipment.3 Sexual transmission of Lassa virus has also been reported.4
About 80% of people who become infected have no symptoms. One in five infections results in severe disease, where the virus affects several organs such as the liver, spleen and kidneys.5 The virus is endemic in Benin, Ghana, Guinea, Liberia, Mali, Sierra Leone, and Nigeria, but probably exists in other West African countries as well. There is currently no approved vaccine that protects against Lassa virus.6
This year has seen outbreaks of Lassa virus in Liberia, Nigeria, Sierra Leone, and South Sudan,7 with Nigeria facing its largest ever outbreak of the disease.8
Dr. Richard Hatchett, CEO of CEPI, said:
“With 472 confirmed cases to date and 121 deaths,9 2018 has seen Nigeria battle its largest documented outbreak of Lassa virus on record. Lassa fever continues to be a threat to public health in many parts of West Africa and has clearly demonstrated its potential to cause severe epidemics. In view of its epidemic potential, the
CEPI’s investment of up to
Thomas Lynch, Chair and CEO of Profectus BioSciences, said:
“Profectus is pleased to partner with CEPI, Emergent, and PATH in the development of our VesiculoVax™-vectored vaccine to protect against Lassa fever. Jointly we can address the substantial unmet medical need of those living in, or travelling to, areas where Lassa virus is endemic.”
Daniel J. Abdun-Nabi, CEO of Emergent BioSolutions, said:
“Through our collaboration with Profectus, CEPI, and PATH, Emergent is pleased to be part of the solution to provide medical countermeasures for emerging infectious diseases where there are none currently such as for Lassa fever. Our
About CEPI
CEPI is an innovative partnership between public, private, philanthropic and civil organizations founded in Davos in 2017 to develop vaccines to stop future epidemics. To date, CEPI has received multi-year funding from Norway, Germany, Japan, the
About
About
About the Lassa vaccine development
The VesiculoVax™ vaccine delivery platform is the result of basic research funding provided by the
Contacts
CEPI Rachel Grant +44(0)7891249190 Rachel.Grant@cepi.net Mario Christodoulou +44 203 917 4130 Mario.Christodoulou@cepi.net |
Profectus BioSciences, Inc. Mary Moynihan M2Friend Biocommunications 802-951-9600 mary@m2friend.com |
Emergent BioSolutions Inc. Investors: Robert G. Burrows Vice President, Investor Relations 240-631-3280 BurrowsR@ebsi.com Media: Lynn Kieffer Vice President, Corporate Communications 240-631-3391 KiefferL@ebsi.com |
1 US CDC. Lassa fever: fact sheet. https://www.cdc.gov/vhf/lassa/pdf/factsheet.pdf (accessed
2 Gov.UK. Lassa fever: origins, reservoirs, transmission and guidelines https://www.gov.uk/guidance/lassa-fever-origins-reservoirs-transmission-and-guidelines (accessed
3 WHO. Lassa fever: fact sheet. http://www.who.int/en/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/lassa-fever (accessed
4 Gov.UK. Lassa fever: origins, reservoirs, transmission and guidelines https://www.gov.uk/guidance/lassa-fever-origins-reservoirs-transmission-and-guidelines (accessed
5 WHO. Lassa fever: fact sheet. http://www.who.int/en/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/lassa-fever (accessed
6 WHO. Lassa fever: fact sheet. http://www.who.int/en/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/lassa-fever (accessed
7 WHO. Weekly bulletin on outbreaks and other emergencies. http://apps.who.int/iris/bitstream/handle/10665/272981/OEW26-2329062018.pdf (accessed
8 WHO. Nigeria battles its largest Lassa fever outbreak on record. https://www.afro.who.int/news/nigeria-battles-its-largest-lassa-fever-outbreak-record (accessed
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