Gavi signs $5bn Ebola vaccine deal

Gavi, the vaccine alliance, has signed a $5m (£3.5m) deal to buy an Ebola vaccine developed by US pharmaceutical group Merck to protect against future outbreaks of the disease.

It said the agreement, which was announced on Wednesday at the World Economic Forum in Davos, will help Merck take the vaccine through licensure and World Health Organisation pre-qualification.

Gavi has provided $5m towards the development of Merck’s VSV-Zebov vaccine, on the understanding that it will be submitted for a license by the end of next year.

If approved, it would become one of the world’s first licensed Ebola vaccines and Gavi would be able to begin buying it to create a stockpile.

In addition, Merck would keep 300,000 vaccines ready for emergency use or further clinical trials.

“The suffering caused by the Ebola crisis was a wake-up call to many in the global health community,” said Gavi chief executive Dr Seth Berkley.

“New threats require smart solutions and our innovative financing agreement with Merck will ensure that we are ahead of the curve for future Ebola outbreaks.”

Dr Jeremy Farrar, director of the Wellcome Trust, which co-funded clinical trials of Merck’s VSV Ebola vaccine, said: “The remarkable results from clinical trials of the VSV Ebola vaccine and the promising progress of other vaccine candidates were among the few positive outcomes to emerge from the epidemic.

“I’m delighted that Gavi has committed to supporting the continued development of the vaccine towards licensure, which is the ultimate goal to enable it to reach those who need it most.”

The Ebola outbreak in West Africa claimed the lives of over 11,300 people and infected over 28,600.