A week after the declaration of a Marburg outbreak in Rwanda in September 2024, Sabin Vaccine Institute announced that it is providing doses of its investigational Marburg vaccine to support the outbreak response. An initial shipment of approximately 700 doses will be used in a trial involving frontline workers, including healthcare professionals, who have been the “hardest hit” by this outbreak. Sabin and the Rwanda Biomedical Centre have entered a clinical trial agreement for a Phase II rapid response open label study, which will be conducted at six trial sites in Rwanda. Sabin also plans to supply additional vaccines, pending a request from Rwandan officials and authorisation from BARDA.
Responding to the outbreak
The outbreak was declared on 27th September 2024, and by 6th October it had caused 12 deaths. Many cases are among health workers in two facilities in Kigali, but there are more cases spread across other districts. Sabin has been “working directly” with Rwandan officials and partners to support the response. There are no licensed vaccines or treatments for Marburg, but Sabin’s single-dose vaccine is in Phase II trials in Uganda and Kenya, with no safety concerns reported to date. The vaccine is based on the ChAd3 platform and results from Phase I clinical trials and nonclinical studies suggest that it is safe and elicits “rapid” and “robust” immune responses.
Commenting on the support from Sabin, Rwanda’s Minister of Health Dr Sabin Nsanzimana reflected that “in emergency situations, the success of clinical trials relies on quick, strategic global partnerships” that combine “expertise, resources, and innovation”.
“Today, a week after this Marburg outbreak was first confirmed, we are receiving doses of the Sabin Vaccine Institute’s Marburg vaccine candidate to protect our health workers and other high-risk groups, and also advance scientific tools which will ensure this virus can be effectively controlled now and in the future.”
Lightning speed
Sabin’s Chief Executive Officer Amy Finan described the team’s “lightning speed” in responding to the Rwandan government’s request for assistance, preparing shipments, finalising protocols, and securing regulatory and legal approvals.
“This swift emergency response demonstrates that a dedicated, collaborative group of individuals and organisations can achieve remarkable results when united by a common cause: to contain a lethal disease outbreak and prevent further loss of life.”
ReiThera, Sabin’s manufacturing partner, has produced the drug substance and filled and finished doses for shipment. CEO Stefano Colloca stated that the ReiThera team believes in the “transformative power of global collaboration to advance science and create lasting impact”.
“Our partnership with Sabin highlights our shared commitment to developing a life-saving vaccine against Marburg disease with a mutual goal: to save lives and ensure that even the most vulnerable communities around the world have access to vital and equitable protection.”
Sabin’s vaccine progress
Sabin plans to launch a Phase II trial of the Marburg candidate in the United States next year, as it looks forward to interim results from the trial in Uganda and Kenya. The development programme is supported by BARDA, which has committed $235 million for advancing vaccine research and development against Sudan ebolavirus and Marburg virus diseases.
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