When Will We Have a Vaccine for Ebola Virus?

[G_j]

http://www.scientificamerican.com/article/when-will-we-have-a-vaccine-for-ebola-virus1/

The deadly Ebola outbreak in west Africa highlights the urgent need for a vaccine, and researchers say one may be available in a few years
Jul 29, 2014 |By Annie Sneed

The latest outbreak of Ebola virus in west Africa is the worst ever—as of Monday, it had infected more than 1,200 people and claimed at least 672 victims since this spring. Guinea, Liberia and Sierra Leone all have confirmed cases. An official at Doctors Without Borders has declared the outbreak as “totally out of control,” according to NBC News. Unfortunately, doctors have no effective vaccines or therapies. Health care workers can only attempt to support patients’ immune systems (regulating fluids, oxygen levels, blood pressure and treating other infections) to help the afflicted fight off the virus as best they can.

A vaccine to help battle future Ebola outbreaks may be just a few years away, however. During the past decade researchers have made significant progress, and vaccines have worked in nonhuman primates. But it has been hard to raise money for human safety tests. To learn about the latest advances as well as obstacles, Scientific American spoke to Thomas Geisbert, a virologist in the Department of Microbiology and Immunology at The University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston. He’s studied the Ebola virus since 1988 and is currently involved in vaccine research and development.

(an edited transcript of the interview follows.)

<snip>

Can you give an estimate for when we might have an effective Ebola virus vaccine?
My guess is anywhere from two to six years. I hate to say this, but it really depends on financial support for the small companies that develop these vaccines. Human studies are expensive and require a lot of government dollars. With Ebola, there’s a small global market—there’s not a big incentive for a large pharmaceutical company to make an Ebola vaccine, so it’s going to require government funding.

I would like to see a situation where we tried to advance our lead candidate vaccines as fast as we can to get phase I studies done. I think we should start with the first responders—the health care workers in areas of high risk. This outbreak is so unique because it’s occurring in an area we’ve never seen it before and also because it seems there’s a higher percentage of medical staff infected than we’ve seen before. I’ve seen all of these vaccines work in numerous animals and I’ve never seen an adverse event from them. I appreciate the safety concerns but it would be great if there were some way to fast-track this. People are being exposed to Ebola and there’s a 60 to 90 percent chance they’re going to die—I think we have to look at it in this context.

[DocwillCuNow]

1. And if that isn't bad enough, now this....

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2014/07/140730173145.htm

Drug-resistant malaria has spread to critical border regions of Southeast Asia
Date:
July 30, 2014
Source:
Wellcome Trust
Summary:
Drug-resistant malaria parasites have spread to critical border regions of Southeast Asia, seriously threatening global malaria control and elimination programs.

BUT on a happier note, I remember reading this a week or so ago.... and it made me smile at the genius of some dedicated medical researchers.

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/home/science/Breakthrough-in-fight-against-AIDS-scientists-delete-HIV-from-human-cells/articleshow/38875772.cms
LONDON: Scientists have for the first time ever "deleted" HIV from human cells, marking a major breakthrough in fight against AIDS.

Once HIV conquers a human cell, it stays there forever. The virus inserts its deadly genome permanently into the victims' DNA, forcing patients to be hooked on drugs for life.

But now, for the first time, researchers have found a way to eliminate latent HIV-1 virus from human cells — and this could be a cure for other latent infections.

Now, a team of Temple University School of Medicine researchers has designed a way to snip out the integrated HIV-1 genes for good.

[CBGLuthier]

2. When White People become afraid of it.

So long as it is an African problem the whole world shrugs its shoulders. Now maybe the latest developments will wake the world up because Ebola does not care what color you are.

[hobbit709]

9. Somebody had a hissyfit but lost 0-7

When White People become afraid of it.
http://www.democraticunderground.com/?com=view_post&forum=1002&pid=5331594

REASON FOR ALERT

This post is disruptive, hurtful, rude, insensitive, over-the-top, or otherwise inappropriate.

ALERTER'S COMMENTS

"When White People become afraid of it?" There is no need to inject race into this serious issue.

You served on a randomly-selected Jury of DU members which reviewed this post. The review was completed at Sun Aug 3, 2014, 11:58 AM, and the Jury voted 0-7 to LEAVE IT.

Juror #1 voted to LEAVE IT ALONE
Explanation: No explanation given
Juror #2 voted to LEAVE IT ALONE
Explanation: No explanation given
Juror #3 voted to LEAVE IT ALONE
Explanation: Oh, stop it.
Juror #4 voted to LEAVE IT ALONE
Explanation: that is exactly what will happen.
Juror #5 voted to LEAVE IT ALONE
Explanation: Alas, the post is too true.
Juror #6 voted to LEAVE IT ALONE
Explanation: The post may have some truth to it.
Juror #7 voted to LEAVE IT ALONE
Explanation: No explanation given

[Squinch]

10. CBGLuthier's comment was simply a fact. I'm glad the jury went the way it did.

Thanks for the results.

[kentauros]

20. And the Onion agrees:

[font size="4"]Experts: Ebola Vaccine At Least 50 White People Away[/font]
News in Brief • Science & Technology • World • health • disease • ISSUE 50•30 • Jul 30, 2014

?5623

CONAKRY, GUINEA—With the death toll in West Africa continuing to rise amid a new outbreak of the Ebola virus, leading medical experts announced Wednesday that a vaccine for the deadly disease is still at least 50 white people from being developed. “While all measures are being taken to contain the spread of the contagion, an effective, safe, and reliable Ebola inoculation unfortunately remains roughly 50 to 60 white people away, if not more,” said Tulane University pathologist Gregory Wensmann, adding that while progress has been made over the course of the last two or three white people, a potential Ebola vaccination is still many more white people off. “We are confident, however, that with each passing white person, we’re moving closer to an eventual antigenic that will prevent and possibly even eradicate the disease.” Wensmann said he remained optimistic that the vaccine would not take considerably longer than his prediction, as waiting more than 50 white people for an effective preventative measure was something the world would simply not allow.

[LittleBlue]

23. That isn't true

A vaccine was already being developed. It isn't easy to whip up a vaccine for a virus so deadly and rare.

[CBGLuthier]

24. Did you read the article?

I hate to say this, but it really depends on financial support for the small companies that develop these vaccines. Human studies are expensive and require a lot of government dollars. With Ebola, there’s a small global market—there’s not a big incentive for a large pharmaceutical company to make an Ebola vaccine, so it’s going to require government funding.



When enough people have enough fear it will create a large enough market that more money and effort will be thrown at the problem perhaps resulting in a vaccine. I never said it would be easy. Just that the market does not exist yet. Fear creates the market. The fact that most of the people getting it now make an annual salary of about 20 bucks just might play into it a bit too.

[IDemo]

3. Maybe sooner than expected

NIH to launch early Ebola vaccine trial in September

The USA will launch an early-stage trial in September of an experimental vaccine against Ebola, the deadly viral disease that has killed 729 people in the largest outbreak in history.

The National Institutes of Health has been developing an Ebola vaccine for several years that has had "encouraging results" in primates, says Anthony Fauci, director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases. Fauci said he's working with the Food and Drug Administration to fast track the vaccine into a phase 1 clinical trial this fall. This type of trial is the earliest study in humans and aims to make sure that drugs are safe and show some efficacy.

Results from the study should be available by January, Fauci said. If the vaccine proves safe and effective, Fauci said he expects that it could be given to health workers in affected African countries sometime in 2015.

"We are starting to discuss some deals with pharmaceutical companies to help scale it up, so on an emergency basis, it might be available in 2015 for health workers who are putting themselves at extreme risk," Fauci said.

http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2014/07/31/ebola-vaccine-trial/13404609/

[Avalux]

4. Yep. Big pharma isn't interested because they won't make money from it.

The infrequent and limited Ebola epidemics thus far have made Ebola unattractive for drug companies; there simply isn't a big enough health threat, by the numbers, for their investment. So yes there are scientists out there who are doing independent work but need the $$ for the clinical studies and subsequent regulatory approval. That has to come from government grants.

While this is an unfortunate reality for Ebola vaccine development - infectious diseases research in general is way underfunded. The public should be screaming for a government initiative dedicated to new antibiotic development. We keep creating cousins of those already in our arsenal, bacteria are figuring it out. Just a matter of time until they win if we don't stay one step ahead.

[sharp_stick]

17. Big Pharma doesn't have access

to BSL level 4 labs. There are like 10 or 12 labs in country capable of handling organisms like Ebola and not a lot of people that can do the work.

A disease like Ebola is one of the main reasons we need a well funded CDC and public research. Private companies are never going into this game.

[Avalux]

25. Hmmm.

scientists in BSL level labs develop the compounds, then if something looks promising in pre-clinical work, big pharma will take over for human clinical trials and then own the drug if approved. I know of no drug or vaccine that is not owned by a pharmaceutical company.

[sharp_stick]

27. You're right they'll hook up later if they can

The real money isn't spent until the compound goes into clinical trials. If pharma is going to get involved it will be on a publicity/humanitarian/orphan drug angle. Nobody will ever make a dime off of an Ebola vaccine.

This will be a biotech/small drug company consortium with the Governement, not big pharma, the money will not be there.

[spanone]

5. when it's profitable for big pharma...not one second sooner

[DocwillCuNow]

6. Like they say.... "ask your doctor about xyz".... n/t

[Garthem]

14. +1

[sharp_stick]

19. The BSL 4 labs

and specialized researchers needed to operate them don't make sense for pharma either financially or from a liability perspective. Any Ebola vaccine will have to come from a publicly financed situation.

[djean111]

7. Monsanto has just very recently invested in Tekmira, a company working on a vaccine.

The US has given a contract to Tekmira for developing the vaccine, I believe.

My prediction is that we will all be required to take a vaccine that Monsanto/Tekmira develop, Monsanto will make billions, other vaccines may be declared unsuitable or made unavailable, there will be immunity granted for side effects and/or inefficacy of the vaccine, and we will all be guinea pigs.

This is based on my experience as an American citizen.

[G_j]

8. sad but,

good call, sounds about right

[CAG]

12. Why would we be "required" to take a vaccine for a disease has very little chance of ever gaining a

foothold in the U.S.? Can you name another example of a vaccine that is recommended by the CDC for U.S. citizens that has not been a significant threat to U.S. citizens? Polio, measles, mumps, tetanus, diphtheris, pertussis, HPV, pneumococcus, hepatitis, rotavirus, rubella, haemophillus?

Varicella vaccine was fairly recent and was somewhat controversial to prevent chickenpox and the implications for potentially causing an increased incidence of shingles down the road, but hardly could be considered a corporate conspiracy.

HPV had a bunch of controversy from the right because they didn't believe their good little boys and girls could EVER have premarital sex.

http://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/parents/downloads/parent-ver-sch-0-6yrs.pdf

[djean111]

13. I say this because of the absolute ridiculousness of posting inspectors at airports who

will monitor incoming overseas passengers for the signs of Ebola, when Ebola has a three week period before symptoms appear.
I think it is a given that Ebola will be here. Ebola will kill you.
Shingles won't kill you, nor is it transmitted to others.

Hey, maybe I am wrong! I hope so, but I doubt it.

[sharp_stick]

18. Tekmira's work

is more therapeutic than vaccine oriented but anything they can produce will be well used.

[pansypoo53219]

11. the planet keeps trying to shrug off excess humanity,

and science keeps trying to foil mother nature. of course crapitalism is killing our anti-biotic cures. so maybe nature wins.

[davidn3600]

16. "The control of nature is a phrase conceived in arrogance..."

"The control of nature is a phrase conceived in arrogance, born of the Neanderthal age of biology and the convenience of man."
-Rachel Carson

[davidn3600]

15. Part of the issue is there are at least 5 known strains of Ebola

A vaccine might not work on all strains.

We are having a hard enough time trying to figure out HIV which effects far more people than Ebola.

[WinkyDink]

26. Never.