Johnson & Johnson has begun clinical trials of its experimental Ebola vaccine, making it the third vaccine currently in clinical development, according to a report by Fortune.
The Johnson & Johnson vaccine differs from the two vaccines already in the works — one from GlaxoSmithKline and one from NewLink and Merck & Co. — in that it involves two separate shots.
Johnson & Johnson's novel approach involves a first injection to stimulate the immune system, followed by a booster shot, created by Bavarian Nordic in Denmark, a few weeks later, according to the report. The vaccine can also be stored in a normal fridge for several months, rather than needing special freezing.
First in-human testing of the new vaccine will be conducted at Oxford (England) University on 72 healthy volunteers who will get different regimens combining the vaccine components or placebo. In late January, additional clinical studies of the vaccine are scheduled in the United States and, shortly after, in Africa, according to the report.
All total, the first phase of the Johnson & Johnson vaccine will involve roughly 300 subjects, according to the report. If all goes well with the tests, the studies will continue into the second quarter, when final-stage Phase III trials are planned.
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