HHS, BioProtection Systems collaborate to advance Ebola vaccine

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ Office of the Assistant Secretary for Preparedness and Response recently entered into a $24.75 million contract with BioProtection Systems Corp. for the development of an Ebola vaccine.

The contract comes in the wake of a two-year long battle with Ebola virus disease in West Africa that claimed more than 11,000 lives. The most recent Ebola diagnosis occurred in West Africa in April. There is currently no available Ebola vaccine on the market.

“The Ebola epidemic of 2014 and 2015 was just the latest outbreak of this potentially deadly disease and we cannot predict when or where the next outbreak will occur,” Dr. Richard Hatchett, acting director of the Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority (BARDA), said. “We can prevent future epidemics by acting quickly and decisively to complete development of Ebola vaccines and treatments for use worldwide. As a global public health threat and a potential bioterrorism threat, Ebola remains a priority.”

Shortly after the Ebola epidemic began, BioProtection Systems Corp. worked in collaboration with Merck and Co. to advance a potential vaccine candidate known as V920. The vaccine candidate has gone through multiple clinical studies, including ones conducted among healthcare providers working in the afflicted West African nations.

The contract, which would end in May 2020, carries an option for extension for a total of five years and an additional $75.98 million in funding for any additional studies.