The trials will assess the vaccine candidate against Rift Valley fever in volunteers in Kenya. Credit: Kateryna Kon/Shutterstock.

The Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations (CEPI) is preparing to initiate Phase II clinical trials for a human vaccine candidate against Rift Valley fever in Kenya, following successful Phase I results in the UK.

The University of Oxford and the Kenya Medical Research Institute (KEMRI)-Wellcome Trust Research Programme will spearhead the study, supported by a $3.7m (Nkr39.88m) grant from CEPI.

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The upcoming trials will involve 240 healthy adults, pending local regulatory approvals.

These participants will be scrutinised for both the safety of the vaccine and its efficacy in stimulating an immune response.

The vaccine, known as ChAdOx1 RVF, utilises the same ChAdOx1 platform that underpinned the widely used Oxford-AstraZeneca Covid-19 vaccine.

In the initial UK-based trials, ChAdOx1 RVF demonstrated a strong safety profile and the ability to induce high levels of neutralising antibodies, particularly with the medium and high-dose options.

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These antibodies are crucial in blocking viral infection and providing immunity against the disease.

Moreover, the vaccine has shown promise in safeguarding multiple livestock species from Rift Valley fever, indicating its potential dual use for both human and animal health, CEPI noted.

ChAdOx1 RVF is one of three vaccine candidates for Rift Valley fever currently in CEPI’s portfolio, marking a significant step forward in the fight against this mosquito-borne illness.

CEPI CEO Dr Richard Hatchett said: “Rift Valley fever disproportionately affects the lives and livelihoods of vulnerable pastoral communities, potentially causing both human fatalities and large-scale livestock losses.

“Investing in the promising human ChAdOx1 RVF vaccine diversifies CEPI’s portfolio and gives us a greater chance at protecting vulnerable populations against this worrisome threat that may become more prevalent with climate change.”