Scientists Developed Inhalable Ebola Vaccine with Successful Monkey Trials
The study published in The Journal of Clinical Investigation revealed that researchers managed to develop a vaccine for Ebola that can be inhaled, instead of injected. The trials on macaque monkeys which indicated an impressive level of protection against the virus, were also considered to be successful. The next step ahead for researchers will be the human trials, which is expected to take place within the next couple of months, Newsweek reported. Alexander Bukreyev from the Galveston National Laboratory at the University of Texas told Newsweek that the National Institutes of Health has scheduled the vaccine's initial tests on humans.
Bukreyev noted that developing a vaccine for Ebola that can be inhaled has many advantages when compared to traditional, injectable vaccines. People who are not comfortable having somebody insert a needle into their vein might find inhalable vaccines more appealing. It is said that in Western Africa, some people might view injections as taboo, which can be a great obstacle on the path of preventing the spread of the deadly disease once the vaccine is ready to be used on humans.
Bukreyev also noted that this inhalable version of the vaccine requires minimum training, which means it can be administered by non-professionals, you can even do it yourself without help, Newsweek reported.
During the study, researchers also did a comparison between the effectiveness of the injectable and inhalable vaccines. The results were promising; not only did the inhalable form of vaccine worked as effectively as the injection, but it also encouraged specific immune cells in the lungs, throat and sinuses to work more effectively, thus preventing infection in those vital parts.
Researchers added that during the trials, the monkeys that were given the vaccine survived a 1,000 times the deadly dose of the virus while all the other, unvaccinated monkeys have died. One single dose of the vaccine inhaled was sufficient to provide protection from the one of the deadliest diseases of our time, Newsweek reported.
