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Review
. 2020 Jun 15;5(1):51.
doi: 10.1038/s41541-020-0204-7. eCollection 2020.

Applying lessons from the Ebola vaccine experience for SARS-CoV-2 and other epidemic pathogens

Jayanthi Wolf  1 , Samantha Bruno  1 , Michael Eichberg  1 , Risat Jannat  1 , Sharon Rudo  1 , Susan VanRheenen  1 , Beth-Ann Coller  1
Affiliations
Review

Applying lessons from the Ebola vaccine experience for SARS-CoV-2 and other epidemic pathogens

Jayanthi Wolf et al. NPJ Vaccines. .

Abstract

The world is experiencing an unprecedented global pandemic of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) caused by a novel coronavirus, Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome-coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2). Development of new vaccines and therapeutics are important to achieve long-term prevention and control of the virus. Experience gained in the development of vaccines for Ebola virus disease provide important lessons in the regulatory, clinical, and manufacturing process that can be applied to SARS-CoV-2 and other epidemic pathogens. This report outlines the main lessons learned by Merck Sharp & Dohme Corp., a subsidiary of Merck & Co., Inc., Kenilworth, NJ, USA (MSD) during development of an Ebola Zaire vaccine (ERVEBO®) and looks ahead to critical lessons beyond vaccine development. It highlights focus areas for public-private partnership and regulatory harmonization that can be directly applied to current vaccine development efforts for SARS-CoV-2, while drawing attention to the need for parallel consideration of issues beyond development that are equally important to achieve global preparedness and response goals.

Keywords: Drug development; Drug regulation.

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Conflict of interest statement

Competing interestsAll authors are employees of Merck Sharp & Dohme Corp., a subsidiary of Merck & Co., Inc., Kenilworth, NJ, USA (MSD) and may own stock or stock options in the company.

Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1. Timeline of the development of the Ebola vaccine from the start of clinical development through approval.
Key clinical and manufacturing activities that were essential for the regulatory approval of the vaccine are noted in this figure.
Fig. 2
Fig. 2. A summary of the lessons learned in pandemic vaccine development.
These key points are based on the learnings from the Ebola vaccine program described in this manuscript.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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