Rift Valley Fever Vaccine : Hope as South African Company Joins Effort
By Gift Briton
Global efforts for a Rift Valley fever (RVF) vaccine accelerate as South Africa’s Afrigen Biologics begins local development of mRNA vaccine.
With no vaccine approved for human use yet, this effort adds to several other vaccine candidates in development.
RVF is a viral illness of humans and livestock that was first discovered in Kenya’s Rift Valley in the 1930s.
However, in recent decades, it has been detected in many African countries and parts of the Middle East, putting more people at risk of infection.
Most human infections result from contact with the blood or organs of infected animals, although bites of infected mosquitoes also cause infection.
The disease outbreak can cause deadly health problems, with experts warning that RVF outbreaks may become more frequent due to climate change, making the development of a human vaccine more urgent.
Supported by a new $6.2 million grant from the Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations (CEPI), the South African biotechnology company is set to develop the first-ever mRNA-based vaccine against Rift Valley fever. The researchers will work with the International Vaccine Institute (IVI) to progress the new vaccine candidate through preclinical development and into Phase I clinical testing in people in either South Africa or another outbreak-affected country on the continent. If successful, it will provide a locally produced tool to combat the disease.
“The CEPI support to Afrigen provides us with another opportunity to utilize our mRNA technology platform to develop a vaccine for a disease of importance to the African continent and the broader region. The partnership with IVI strengthens and complements the technological innovation required to develop a safe and effective vaccine against a 95-year-old disease,” said Prof Petro Terblanche, Chief Executive Officer of Afrigen Biologics and Vaccines.
South Africa’s Minister of Trade, Industry and Competition Mr Parks Tau, said: “South Africa is committed to innovation and the development of novel vaccines that counter the negative impacts on human health and economic development. The collaboration between CEPI and South Africa’s flagship Biotechnology research, development and manufacturing company Afrigen is valued and central to our commitment to develop and sustain local manufacturing capacity and capabilities on the African continent.”
While the majority of people infected by RVF experience mild disease, up to two per cent of those infected can develop severe haemorrhage, which can cause blindness, convulsions, encephalitis and bleeding, and has mortality rates of around 50%, according to the World Health Organization.
Dr Richard Hatchett, CEO of CEPI, said: “A safe and effective Rift Valley fever mRNA vaccine made in Africa, for Africa, raises the bar in our response to future Rift Valley fever outbreaks, and paves the way to make rapid response mRNA vaccines against similar viruses that could emerge on the continent or in other low- and middle-income countries. This new research will further strengthen the continent’s future preparedness and response capabilities thereby enhancing Africa’s vaccine sovereignty and health security.
Dr Jerome Kim, Director General of the International Vaccine Institute (IVI), said: “IVI is committed to working with partners to develop a sustainable end-to-end vaccine ecosystem in Africa that supports novel vaccine discovery, clinical trials, manufacturing, delivery, and access. Through the support and partnership of CEPI and Afrigen, we will accelerate a new Rift Valley fever vaccine candidate through preclinical development into a Phase I clinical trial in humans. Together, we aim to develop and locally produce a safe, effective, and accessible Rift Valley fever vaccine in Africa to protect the most affected regions and people from this deadly, though preventable, disease.”