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EB

Ebola vaccine (BPSC 1001 / BPSC1001 / VSV ZEBOV)

✓ Approved

Merck & Co. · Vaccine · Vaccine

What is Ebola vaccine?

Ebola vaccine is a vaccine developed by Merck & Co.. It is approved for therapeutic indications via injectable (others) or intramuscular (im) injection.

Drug Profile

Brand NamesBPSC 1001, BPSC1001, VSV ZEBOV
CompanyMerck & Co.
Drug ClassVaccine, Large Molecules
RouteInjectable (Others), Intramuscular (IM) Injection
StatusApproved
Sources: ClinicalTrials.gov, Merck & Co.

Therapeutic Indications

Ebola vaccine is developed for 1 unique indication across 1 therapeutic area.

Therapeutic AreaConditionPhase
Congenital, familial and genetic disordersCongenital Ebola virus infection✓ Approved

Related Research Articles

PubMedNPJ vaccines2026-05-24

Heterologous vaccination with a next-generation vaccinia virus and Ad26 induces Ebola-specific immunity in macaques.

Vijayan Aneesh A, Cooper Tamara T, Kolfschoten Marijn van der Neut MVN, Heinemann Gary G et al.

Different ways of combining virus vector-based vaccines can impact the effectiveness of immune responses against specific antigens. In this study, we explored the effects of different immunization schedules on immune responses elicited by viral vector-based vaccines in monkeys, with a focus on the heterologous regimens with a next-generation attenuated vaccinia virus, Sementis Copenhagen vector (SCV), and human adenovirus serotype 26 (Ad26) expressing the Ebola glycoprotein (EBOV-GP). Our findings highlight that the order of administration of these vaccines plays a pivotal role in modulating cellular immune responses. We observed that initiating immunization with Ad26.EBOV followed by SCV.EBOV, significantly enhanced the magnitude and quality of antigen-specific memory CD4+ T-cell responses when compared to a homologous Ad26.EBOV regimen. Importantly, the binding antibody titers induced by this heterologous approach were similar to that elicited by a homologous Ad26.EBOV regimen, although we observed a transiently elevated neutralizing antibody titers at the peak of the response for the SCV.EBOV/Ad26.EBOV regimen. Our results suggest that a heterologous vaccination strategy combining Ad26.EBOV and SCV.EBOV could be an alternative to the currently used Ad26/MVA platform for Ebola vaccination, potentially mitigating some of the manufacturing challenges associated with Modified Vaccinia virus Ankara (MVA). The observed benefits of the heterologous regimen, particularly its capacity to enhance T-cell responses, reinforce its potential as a promising alternative to homologous regimens that warrants further investigation.

PMID 42177200
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PubMedVaccine2026-05-24

Consultation report - gonococcal immunoassays and standards for vaccine development.

MacLennan C A CA, Davis P P, Gottlieb S L SL, Seib K L KL et al.

Gonorrhoea is a sexually transmitted infection with adverse outcomes for sexual, reproductive and neonatal health. Additionally, the bacterium, Neisseria gonorrhoeae, has demonstrated increasing resistance against multiple classes of antimicrobials, making combatting gonorrhoea a priority for the World Health Organization. An effective vaccine would have substantial global public health benefit and a major impact on the silent pandemic of antimicrobial resistance. Several candidate gonococcal vaccines, representing a number of vaccine platforms, are in pre-clinical development. In addition, a number of clinical studies are underway to assess the efficacy of the meningococcal group B vaccine, 4CMenB, against gonorrhoea. A major challenge in comparing gonococcal vaccine candidates and vaccine-induced immune responses is the lack of standardised and harmonised immunoassays. At present, immunogenicity of the different vaccine formulations is measured through assays which have been developed independently in different laboratories. As the development of candidate gonococcal vaccines moves into clinical trials, improved harmonisation in the measurement of immunogenicity is key for comparing vaccine responses across trials. This requires international standards, including an international serum standard for gonococcal immunoassays, and a panel of standard target strains, which are currently lacking. A further complication is the lack of knowledge about immune correlates of protection against gonorrhoea, and, therefore, the most appropriate assays to use to assess the immune response to a candidate vaccine. As further data are gathered from clinical studies exploring protection against gonorrhoea provided by 4CMenB, it may be possible to discern correlates of protection, but this also requires standardised assays. A workshop was held at Keble College, Oxford, United Kingdom in April 2024, with participation from vaccine developers, regulators and assay standardisation specialists. Its goal was to advance discussions on gonococcal immunoassay standardisation priorities, including generation of a gonococcal international reference serum. The meeting discussion, outcomes and recommendations are outlined in this report.

PMID 42176439
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PubMedFish & shellfish immunology2026-05-24

Evaluation of the Immunological Efficacy of EsxA Subunit Vaccine and DNA Vaccine against Streptococcus iniae in golden pompano (Trachinotus anak).

Huang Zhiyuan Z, Sun Heng H, Wang Haoyu H, Jia Xinlei X et al.

Streptococcus iniae represents an important bacterial agent responsible for streptococcosis in marine fish, leading to substantial economic impacts in aquaculture worldwide. The development of effective vaccines is therefore a critical priority. EsxA, a conserved early-secreted and homolog of antigenic target six (ESAT-6), is involved in bacterial virulence and mediates interactions between the pathogen and its host via the type VII secretion system. In this work, EsxA was examined as a prospective vaccine antigen in golden pompano (Trachinotus anak) using both subunit and DNA vaccination strategies. Recombinant EsxA protein was expressed in Escherichia coli BL21(DE3) and administered intraperitoneally as a subunit vaccine, either alone or formulated with the oil-based adjuvant Montanide ISA 763A. Concurrently, a DNA vaccine was developed by cloning the complete esxA gene into the pVAX1 vector. Vaccinated fish were subjected to challenge with S. iniae at 8 weeks post-immunization to evaluate protective efficacy and assess the host's innate and adaptive immune responses. A high level of protection against S. iniae challenge was achieved with the EsxA-based subunit vaccine, particularly when formulated with adjuvant ISA 763A, whereas the DNA vaccine elicited moderate yet statistically significant protection. Immunological profiling revealed robust antigen-specific IgM production following subunit vaccination, while DNA vaccination significantly upregulated transcription of key immune-related genes associated with antigen presentation and cellular immunity, including MHC class I and CD8α. Furthermore, nonspecific immune parameters, including catalase, lysozyme, acid phosphatase, alkaline phosphatase activity and superoxide dismutase, were significantly elevated following vaccination, indicating potent activation of innate immune defense. Collectively, EsxA is a promising vaccine candidate against S. iniae in T. anak, and different vaccine platforms elicit distinct immune response profiles that may inform future vaccine optimization in marine aquaculture.

PMID 42176785
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PubMedVaccine2026-05-24

Evaluation of EcoCRM, virus-like particles, and mRNA as vaccine platforms against Borrelia burgdorferi.

Rocuskie-Marker Carleena M CM, Huckaby Annalisa B AB, Conaway Olivia M OM, Pyles Gage M GM et al.

Lyme disease (LD) is the most prevalent vector-borne disease in the United States, impacting ∼476,000 individuals annually with increasing incidence. Prevention relies on personal protective measures such as insecticides and tick checks, underscoring the need for new preventatives such as vaccines. In this work, the importance of vaccine platform in LD vaccine development efforts was evaluated using non-lipidated OspA as model antigen. Recombinant OspA conjugated to CRM197 (EcoCRM OspA), a virus-like particle vaccine utilizing SpyTag and SpyCatcher (OspA-SpyVLP), and an mRNA-based vaccine construct (OspA mRNA) were evaluated and compared in C3H mice using the needle injection challenge model. To determine immunogenicity, anti-OspA and anti-B. burgdorferi antibodies were quantified via ELISA and further assessed by measuring IgG subclass, antibody avidity, and presence of antibody secreting cells. All vaccine formulations were immunogenic and led to the release of similar levels of antigen-specific IgG in serum during the duration of the experiment. However, there were significant differences around two week post-boost in the presence of antibody secreting cells, ratio of IgG1/IgG2 subclasses, and antibody avidity between platforms. Protection was measured using PCR and darkfield microscopy to determine organ positivity post-challenge. Vaccination with recombinant non-lipidated OspA and OspA-SpyVLP significantly reduced the number of positive organs compared to the PBS challenged control group. Lastly, in vitro borreliacidal activity was quantified via darkfield microscopy and the highest borreliacidal activity was observed using OspA-SpyVLP sera, with titers 16-fold higher than recombinant OspA. Altogether, these data indicated that selection of vaccine platform/formulation influenced the immunogenicity and efficacy of OspA-based LD vaccines and should be considered during development.

PMID 42176436
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PubMedJournal of experimental & clinical cancer research : CR2026-05-24

Vaccine-expanded plasmablast-like B cells are associated with response to dendritic cell therapy in metastatic melanoma.

Tazzari Marcella M, Carloni Silvia S, Bulgarelli Jenny J, Pignatta Sara S et al.

Dendritic Cell Vaccines (DCVax) can induce tumor-specific immune responses, yet their clinical activity remains limited and poorly understood. We sought to identify cellular and molecular features within the vaccine product that are associated with clinical response to monocyte-derived DC vaccines in metastatic melanoma. We performed a multi-omics analysis integrating multiparametric flow cytometry, single-cell RNA sequencing of DCVax products, transcriptomic profiling of CD14⁺ monocytes from apheresis, and in situ characterization of pre-treatment melanoma biopsies. Patients were stratified into Responders (Rs) or Non-Responders (NRs) based on best overall response and Delayed-Type Hypersensitivity (DTH) status. An unanticipated population of CD19⁺ plasmablast-like B cells was identified within the final DCVax products. These B cells, phenotypically distinct from their circulating precursors, were significantly enriched in Rs and mirrored a B-cell-inflamed baseline state characterized by mature Tertiary Lymphoid Structures (mTLS) in pre-treatment tumor lesions. While mature LAMP3⁺ DCs appeared at comparable frequencies across outcomes, LAMP3⁺ DCs from Rs selectively upregulated HSPA1A/B, consistent with enhanced antigen-processing programs. Transcriptomic signatures of antibody production in vaccine-resident B cells, together with Fc receptor expression on DCs, support a model in which B-cell activity may contribute to antigen loading and DC functional tuning during vaccine manufacturing, a hypothesis that warrants functional validation. Our findings reveal a previously unrecognized B-cell component of DCVax biology, suggesting that cooperative DC-B-cell interactions, combined with baseline B-cell/mTLS features, may contribute to shaping vaccine immunogenicity. While causality cannot be established from the present data, these insights offer actionable avenues for enhancing both vaccine manufacturing and patient selection, extending beyond melanoma.

PMID 42177548
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PubMedVeterinary parasitology2026-05-24

Recombinant PsoSP4 confers superior 80% protection against psoroptic mange in rabbits in association with a Th1-biased immune response.

Gu X B XB, Wu F Y FY, Hao G Y GY, JiPo E H Z EHZ et al.

Psoroptic mange, caused by Psoroptes ovis, is a severe global ectoparasitic disease for which no commercial vaccine is available. Here, we evaluated four recombinant P. ovis proteins (rPsoSP4, rPsoPRF, rPsoMIF, and rPsoSP5) as subunit vaccine candidates in a rabbit model. Three antigens conferred significant and graded protection, with final protection rates of 80% (rPsoSP4), 60% (rPsoPRF) and 20% (rPsoMIF), compared to 0% in the control and rPsoSP5-vaccinated groups. The lead candidate, rPsoSP4, reduced ear lesion scores, crust weights, and mite burden by up to 88.57%, 88.30%, and 81.80%, respectively. To our knowledge, rPsoSP4 is the most efficacious defined antigen against psoroptic mange reported to date, outperforming the previously tested single recombinant antigen and even a seven-protein cocktail vaccine. Mechanistically, protection correlated with a balanced, Th1-skewed immune signature. The high-level protection conferred by rPsoSP4 was characterized by elevated IFN-γ coupled with restrained Th-17A levels. In contrast, the non-protective rPsoSP5 vaccine elicited a singularly skewed Th17 response. Furthermore, antigen-specific IgG levels did not always correlate positively with protection (rPsoSP5), but a moderate yet significant elevation in total IgE was observed in the protected groups (rPsoPRF, rPsoMIF). This suggests a potential contributory role for IgE-mediated effector mechanisms in the anti-mite response. Our results identify rPsoSP4 as a highly efficacious single-antigen vaccine candidate and validate rPsoPRF and rPsoMIF as viable alternatives.

PMID 42176370
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