Health Canada authorizes Moderna Ebola vaccine trial
Moderna Ebola vaccine trial begins in Canada after Health Canada approval Phase 1 testing targets Bundibugyo strain; see what safety data could mean
Health Canada has approved Moderna to begin a Phase 1 clinical trial of an mRNA vaccine candidate targeting the Bundibugyo strain of Ebola, as the virus continues to spread in the Democratic Republic of Congo.
The trial will take place at three Canadian sites in Halifax, Truro and Toronto and is expected to enroll about 80 participants. Health Canada said the study will focus on safety, dosing and side effects before any laterstage testing could be considered.
The outbreak in Congo has been expanding for months, with more than 3,800 infections and about 1,700 deaths reported since midMay, according to the article. Health experts said existing Ebola vaccines may offer some crossprotection, but they stressed that it could take time before any new vaccine is ready for use in the current crisis.