Ebola experts doubt the vaccine's success

Experts doubt the success of planned Ebola vaccine studies

01/18/2015

Already over 8,400 people have died of Ebola in West Africa, more than 21,000 have been infected with the dangerous infectious disease. In the coming weeks, major vaccine trials are scheduled to start in the epidemic areas. But experts doubt their success.

Vaccine studies in epidemic areas
Since the beginning of the Ebola epidemic in West Africa, the World Health Organization (WHO) has already infected more than 21,000 people with the virus, and more than 8,400 have died of the infectious disease. Despite intense efforts, there is no vaccine or cure for the deadly disease. Doctors usually have to confine themselves to treating patients for typical Ebola symptoms such as fever, loss of appetite, diarrhea, headache, nausea and vomiting, and internal and external bleeding. In the coming weeks, large vaccine trials are scheduled to begin in the epidemic areas in West African countries. But experts doubt their success, as the news agency dts reported.

Number of new infections in Liberia dropped significantly
Accordingly, pharmaceutical manufacturers have expressed doubts that the studies will bring the hoped-for results. The news magazine „The mirror“ Scientists and manufacturers fear that the efficacy of vaccines may be difficult to substantiate. Especially in Liberia, the number of new infections has dropped significantly, as recently under the headline: „Ebola: First optimism in Liberia“ was reported. The studies will actually look at how many vaccinated people are still infected with Ebola compared to the unvaccinated, but if only a few are infected, it will be difficult to prove such a difference.

Epidemic can probably be finally defeated only with a vaccine
„It is therefore absolutely crucial that the studies now start quickly“, said Jeremy Farrar, director of the UK-based Wellcome Trust, which supports the multi-million euro Ebola vaccine research. „It would be unforgivable if we did not succeed in developing an effective vaccine now.“ And even if the number of new infections in the coming weeks continues to fall, it could be that the disease could only be finally ended with a vaccine.

Pharmaceutical manufacturers think about alternatives
However, pharmaceutical manufacturers are doubtful that the studies can prove their efficacy. „We work in parallel“, explained Mark Feinberg, who is responsible for vaccines at the pharmaceutical company Merck. „On the one hand, we try to get the study started as soon as possible-on the other hand, we think about alternatives in case the infection numbers go down even further.“ For example, the results of several studies could be combined. Or return to the concept of „Animal Rule“ back, the review process that the US Food and Drug Administration originally intended for Ebola vaccines. The efficacy of the vaccine is reported to be demonstrated in primates and then demonstrated that the human immune response to the vaccine is similar to that of the animals. It is said that such data could also be combined with study results from the disease areas. (Ad)