World's first inhalable Ebola vaccine passed animal tests

Scientists from the University of Texas on 4 November 2014 confirmed that the World’s first inhalable Ebola vaccine passed animal tests.

Professor Maria Croyle along with Dr Gary Kobinger at the National Microbiology Laboratory in Winnipeg confirmed the tests.

The vaccine has shown a long-term protection for non-human primates against the deadly Ebola virus. Results from a recent pre-clinical study represent the only proof to date that a single dose of a non-injectable vaccine platform for Ebola is long lasting, which could have significant global implications in controlling future outbreaks.

The vaccine
A breathable vaccine could surmount the logistical obstacles of storing, transporting and administering injectable vaccines in parts of Africa most afflicted by the virus.

Croyle worked over seven years to develop a respiratory formulation that improved survival of immunized non-human primates from 67% to 100% after challenge with 1000 plaque forming units of Ebola Zaire 150 days after immunization.
This improvement is statistically significant because only 50% of the primates given the vaccine by the standard method of intramuscular injection survived challenge.

Although progress has been made in understanding the virus' biology, no licensed vaccines or treatments currently exist.
The next stage of research for Croyle's team is a phase I clinical trial that tests the effectiveness of their vaccine on human subjects. They will also further explore preliminary data they have collected for administration of the vaccine as a thin film under the tongue in non-human primates.