Bavarian Nordic intends to develop a vaccine against three separate strains of equine encephalitis virus. Credit: PublicDomainPictures from Pixabay.

Bavarian Nordic has started a Phase I clinical trial to assess its vaccine candidate MVA-BN WEV for prophylaxis against equine encephalitis virus.

The equine encephalitis virus is transmitted via mosquitos, birds and certain mammals. Eastern, Venezuelan and Western equine encephalitis viruses can cause flu-like symptoms, central nervous disorders and death.

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This year, more than 30 cases have been reported in the US, including nine deaths. The virus currently lacks approved vaccines.

During its development programme, Bavarian Nordic intends to develop a vaccine against the three separate strains of the virus.

The newly initiated Phase I trial is intended to assess the safety, tolerability and immunogenicity of three different doses of MVA-BN WEV in 45 healthy volunteers.

Top-line data from the trial is expected to be reported next year.

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The development programme is currently supported by the US Department of Defense (DOD) Joint Project Manager for Chemical, Biological, Radiation, and Nuclear Medical under a multi-year agreement worth up to $36m.

Positive safety and immunogenicity data from the Phase I trial is expected to fetch additional funds to support preclinical, clinical development and manufacturing for the US market.

Bavarian Nordic president and CEO Paul Chaplin said: “The prevalence of Eastern equine encephalitis, which is currently on the rise in the US, highlights the importance of a vaccine to help fight these diseases.

“Again, we are leveraging the unique properties of our MVA-BN platform technology to address unmet medical needs, and we look forward to continuing our work with DOD on this important programme.”

In February, the company launched a Phase I/IIa trial of its MVA-BN HPV prime-boost vaccine regimen to treat chronic infections with high-risk subtypes of the human papillomavirus (HPV).