In response to a request from the government of Rwanda and @RwandaHealth to support its ongoing #marburg outbreak response, we have provided an initial shipment of ~700 investigational Marburg vaccine doses to be used in a trial targeting frontline workers. We dispatched the… pic.twitter.com/qhRbgMU2NC
— Sabin Vaccine Institute (@sabinvaccine) October 5, 2024
With no licensed vaccines or treatments available for the Marburg virus—an illness with a mortality rate of up to 88%—Rwanda’s swift response has been essential. The outbreak, which was declared on September 27, has already infected 46 people and claimed 12 lives, with most cases reported among healthcare workers in Kigali. A smaller number of cases have also been reported in other districts.
Sabin’s quick action followed an urgent request from Rwandan health officials, with vaccine doses being shipped within seven days of the request. “This swift emergency response demonstrates that a dedicated, collaborative group of individuals and organizations can achieve remarkable results when united by a common cause: to contain a lethal disease outbreak and prevent further loss of life,” said Sabin CEO Amy Finan.
Rwanda’s Minister of Health, Dr. Sabin Nsanzimana, highlighted the importance of global partnerships in responding to public health emergencies. “In emergency situations, the success of clinical trials relies on quick, strategic, global partnerships that bring together expertise, resources, and innovation,” he said. “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.”
Sabin’s manufacturing partner, Italy-based ReiThera, produced and prepared the vaccine doses for shipment to Rwanda. The collaborative effort is part of a broader initiative to ensure equitable access to life-saving vaccines, particularly for vulnerable communities.
Marburg virus, a close relative of the Ebola virus, is transmitted from fruit bats to humans and spreads through contact with infected bodily fluids. Outbreaks of Marburg have surged in Africa in recent years, including incidents in Tanzania and Equatorial Guinea in 2023.
Sabin’s Phase 2 trials for the vaccine are also underway in Uganda and Kenya, with interim results expected next year. The trials, supported by the U.S. Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority (BARDA), aim to advance vaccine research for both the Marburg virus and Sudan ebolavirus. To date, BARDA has committed $235 million to support Sabin’s vaccine development efforts.
The rapid deployment of the investigational vaccine in Rwanda marks a significant step in addressing the outbreak and advancing global health security.
In addition to ReiThera and Rwanda’s government, Sabin is grateful for all these organizations including CEPI, GSK, IQVIA, kENUP Africa, National Institutes of Health’s Vaccine Research Center, WHO, and World Courier who have contributed to our past and current efforts.
