rVSV-ZEBOV vaccine first real-world data support prophylactic use for future Ebola outbreaks

The rVSV-ZEBOV vaccine has demonstrated real-world effectiveness of approximately 84% against Ebola virus disease, revealed a recent study carried out by researchers in Europe and the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC).

This retrospective, test-negative study, which analyzed 618 individuals during the 2018-2020 Ebola virus epidemic in the DRC, supports the prophylactic use of rVSV-ZEBOV for future outbreaks, says pharma analytics company GlobalData.

GlobalData infectious disease analyst Stephanie Kurdach noted that the recombinant vesicular stomatitis virus – Zaire Ebola virus (rVSV-ZEBOV) vaccine is marketed by US pharma giant Merck & Co (NYSE: MRK) under the name Ervebo. It has been commercialized in the USA and European Union since 2019 and in 2020 the DRC became one of the first African countries to register the vaccine, along with Burundi, Ghana, and Zambia. rVSV-ZEBOV will have the biggest impact in nations where the virus is endemic, such as the DRC.”