International Aids Vaccine Initiative
🇰🇪Kenya
Turn Therapeutics Achieves Breakthrough in Room-Temperature Vaccine Stability
• Turn Therapeutics has demonstrated 100% recovery of vesicular stomatitis virus (VSV) after 72 hours in an oil-based carrier at room temperature, potentially eliminating cold storage requirements for vaccines.
• The breakthrough, developed in partnership with the International AIDS Vaccine Initiative, represents the first successful quantitative recovery of a live virus stably suspended in an oil-based carrier.
• This technology could revolutionize vaccine distribution to remote and low-resource settings by extending viability from four hours to at least 72 hours without refrigeration.
USAID Funding Freeze Threatens Global Clinical Trials and Infectious Disease Research
• The US Agency for International Development (USAID) has suspended all foreign assistance funding, forcing the pause of multiple clinical trials and threatening ongoing research in HIV, tuberculosis, and malaria.
• Non-profit organizations like International AIDS Vaccine Initiative (IAVI) have already halted trials, while existing study participants face uncertainty about continued care and follow-up.
• Experts warn that the sudden funding gap could lead to increased antimicrobial resistance, setbacks in global health initiatives, and extended drug development timelines unless other sponsors and foundations step in.
Uganda Launches Groundbreaking First-Ever Ebola Sudan Vaccine Trial with WHO Support
• Uganda's Ministry of Health and WHO have initiated the world's first randomized vaccine trial for Ebola Sudan virus, launching in record time just four days after outbreak confirmation.
• The trial evaluates a recombinant VSV vaccine candidate, addressing the critical absence of licensed vaccines for Ebola Sudan strain, with support from global health organizations and research institutions.
• Using a ring vaccination strategy, the trial begins with 40 contacts of the first confirmed case, implementing lessons learned from Uganda's 2022 Ebola Sudan outbreak.
Experimental Vaccines and Therapeutics Deployed in Rwanda to Combat Marburg Outbreak
• Rwanda is set to begin clinical trials of experimental vaccines and therapeutics to combat a Marburg outbreak, which has seen 46 infections and 12 deaths.
• The Sabin Vaccine Institute has delivered 700 doses of its Marburg vaccine for a Phase 2 trial targeting frontline health workers, with potential for further supply.
• Gilead Sciences is donating 5,000 doses of remdesivir, an antiviral drug, for emergency use in Rwanda, alongside monoclonal antibody treatments from the U.S. government.
• The WHO is supporting Rwanda in managing the outbreak, emphasizing the critical need for enhanced infection prevention and control measures to safeguard health workers.
© Copyright 2025. All Rights Reserved by MedPath