West Africa: Strengthening Lassa Fever Vaccine Research and Trial Capacity in West Africa.
West Africa Advances Lassa Fever Vaccine Research Amid Rising Cases Abuja, Nigeria, August 14, 2025 – As Lassa fever continues to claim lives across West Africa, with Nigeria alone reporting 717 confirmed cases and 138 deaths in the first five months of 2025, regional and global efforts are intensifying to develop a vaccine and bolster research capacity. The viral hemorrhagic fever, endemic to countries like Nigeria, Ghana, Liberia, and Sierra Leone, underscores the urgent need for sustained investment in vaccine development and local manufacturing to curb its devastating impact. Breakthroughs in Vaccine Development A significant milestone was announced in June 2025 by Nigerian virologist Dr. Simeon Agwale of Innovative Biotech. His team developed a Lassa fever vaccine based on a Nigerian strain, achieving 100% protection in preclinical trials on mice and non-human primates. Licensed from Medigen USA, the vaccine is poised for Phase 1 clinical trials, pending upgrades to manufacturing facilities to meet Good Manufacturing Practice (GMP) standards. Globally, the Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations (CEPI) is supporting multiple vaccine candidates. The IAVI-developed rVSV-based vaccine, modeled on the Ebola vaccine platform, is now in Phase 2a trials across Nigeria, Ghana, and Liberia, enrolling over 600 participants to evaluate safety and immune response. Results are expected later in 2025. Additionally, Oxford University’s ChAdOx1 vaccine, leveraging the same platform as the Oxford/AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine, entered Phase 1 trials in London in early 2025, with plans to expand to West Africa. Building Research and Trial Capacity West Africa is strengthening its capacity to lead vaccine trials through regional collaboration and infrastructure development. The CEPI-funded Enable study, the largest Lassa fever research effort to date, is generating critical epidemiological and sero prevalence data to guide trial design and site selection. The study also enhances local infrastructure, improving cold-chain systems, laboratory diagnostics, ethical review processes, and data management. The West Africa Health Organization (WAHO) leads the Lassa Vaccine Coalition, uniting governments, researchers, and regulators across Nigeria, Sierra Leone, Liberia, and beyond to align vaccine development with regional needs. In Nigeria, the Lassa Vaccine Task Force, launched in 2023, coordinates efforts between the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) and the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC).Training programs are fostering a new generation of researchers. The Vanderbilt-Nigeria V-BRCH program and Nigeria’s Field Epidemiology Training Programme (NFETP) are equipping scientists with skills in ethics, Good Clinical Practice, and outbreak response. The Kano Independent Research Centre Trust (KIRCT) serves as a model trial site with advanced laboratories and community engagement systems.Manufacturing Challenges PersistDespite scientific progress, West Africa faces significant hurdles in vaccine manufacturing. While Senegal’s Institut Pasteur de Dakar leads regional production, most countries, including Nigeria, rely on imported vaccines. Nigeria’s National Veterinary Research Institute produces livestock vaccines but lacks GMP-compliant facilities for human vaccines. High costs, scarce raw materials, and inadequate infrastructure hinder progress toward WHO prequalification.Nigeria’s Presidential Initiative for Unlocking the Healthcare Value Chain (PVAC) aims to address these gaps by mobilizing investment and enhancing local manufacturing. However, a shortage of skilled researchers and outdated training curricula remain barriers. Traditional fellowships often fail to build sustainable research ecosystems, and limited mentorship and career pathways risk losing talent.A Path to Self-RelianceWith promising vaccine candidates and growing research capacity, West Africa is poised to shift from vaccine dependency to leadership in combating Lassa fever. Sustained investment in training, trial infrastructure, and manufacturing, alongside robust community engagement to address vaccine hesitancy, will be critical to success. As global and regional efforts converge, countries like Nigeria are laying the foundation for a future where they can independently tackle Lassa fever and other endemic threats.
