Merck-NewLink Ebola vaccine trial resumes at lower dose: Geneva hospital

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REUTERS                                                       Jan. 5, 2015

GENEVA --The clinical trial of an Ebola vaccine developed by Merck and NewLink resumed on Monday at a lower dose after a pause to assess complaints of joint pains in some volunteers, the University of Geneva hospital said.

The Geneva hospital announced on Dec. 11 that its vaccine trial had been suspended as a precautionary measure after four patients complained of joint pains. On Monday, the hospital said 10 of 59 volunteers who received the vaccine had felt pains in their joints "similar to rheumatism" after some two weeks, but these symptoms had disappeared rapidly without any treatment.

Swissmedic, the Swiss regulatory agency, and ethics and safety committees have approved the resumption of the trial at a lower dose, the hospital said in a statement.

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http://www.reuters.com/article/2015/01/05/us-health-ebola-vaccine-idUSKBN0KE0XP20150105
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HOMELAND SECURITY TODAY   by Amanda Vicinanzo                                           Dec. 29, 014

The US Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority (BARDA) of the Department of Health and Human Services awarded a $30 million contract to BioProtection Systems, a subsidiary of biopharmaceutical company NewLink Genetics, toward developing and manufacturing an Ebola vaccine.

 The grant will cover the cost of clinical development through a new 330-person Phase 1B study.

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http://www.hstoday.us/single-article/barda-awards-30m-ebola-vaccine-contract-to-newlink-merck/bc397a44898cbc834fb3a9e08312e86f.html