News
NEWSLETTER
April 2025
LEAP4WA consortium members continue to advance the Lassa fever vaccine programme, towards a Phase 2b clinical trial of the rVSV∆G-LASV-GPC (LASV) vaccine candidate in 2026. In this newsletter, we’re pleased to share some of the latest updates on the programme, including across capacity strengthening, community engagement, and dissemination activities. Keep reading to learn more and discover the latest news and resources.
Read it here.
April 2024
We are pleased to share the first edition of the LEAP4WA newsletter. The dedication and ingenuity of all involved in LEAP4WA is laying the groundwork for the advanced clinical testing of the LASV vaccine candidate, with preparations underway to start the LEAP4WA trial in the coming 12 months. In the meantime, thanks to the hard work of the partners and clinical trial sites, the Phase 2a trial (funded by CEPI) is now underway following approval by the Ethics and Regulatory authorities in Nigeria, Liberia, and Ghana.
Click here for updates on the broader clinical development programme of the LASV vaccine candidate, meet the LEAP4WA students, and learn about LEAP4WA’s site preparation work.
NEWS FROM THE FIELD
Strengthening Lassa Fever Vaccine Research and Trial Capacity in West Africa
Nigeria Health Watch | 13 August 2025
Developing any vaccine begins with addressing a well-define public health need. For Lassa fever, that means identifying the gap, understanding where and how the virus spreads, and who is most at risk. The Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations (CEPI)-funded Enable study plays a key role in these efforts, generating robust epidemiological and seroprevalence data across affected communities. These insights are essential for strengthening outbreak preparedness and directly inform future clinical trial design and site selection, ensuring that vaccine development efforts are targeted and impactful.
Read more here.
How new vaccine trials in West Africa boost global viral defences
CEPI | 30 April 2025
As well as bringing the prospect of protection against Lassa closer than ever before, CEPI-backed vaccine studies are also deepening crucial scientific understanding of the Arenavirus family that could one day help prevent the next epidemic or pandemic. CEPI spoke to researchers working on the world’s most advanced Lassa vaccine candidate to find out more.
Read more here.
Top 10 Health research breakthroughs by Nigerian scientists this decade
Pulse, Nigeria | 29 April 2025
Over the past ten years Nigerian researchers have led pioneering work that is reshaping the continent’s health environment. Advances span from rapid diagnostics and genomic surveillance to vaccine trials and pandemic early-warning systems. These breakthroughs have accelerated outbreak response, slashed time to treatment and opened new paths for disease prevention. This includes the first human Phase 2 trial of a Lassa fever vaccine, coordinated by IAVI and funded by CEPI, which began at the Federal Medical Centre in Owo.
Read more here.
Findings from papers in eBioMedicine advance development of IAVI’s single-dose Lassa fever vaccine candidate
IAVI | 16 April 2025
Findings were published in eBioMedicine in April detailing protection of nonhuman primates with IAVI’s single-dose Lassa fever vaccine candidate. High-resolution images show how vaccine-induced antibodies bind to the viral surface. These results, combined with positive interim results from IAVI-sponsored Phase 1 clinical trials (NCT04794218) in the U.S. and Liberia, provide strong rationale for further clinical development of IAVI’s product currently in Phase 2a.
Read more here.
Lassa Fever Vaccine Clinical Trial Begins, Marking Key Step Forward
GEN | 17 March 2025
Currently, there are no specific drug treatments or vaccines for Lassa fever, which is on the World Health Organization’s (WHO) Priority Pathogen list. NIH’s National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) is sponsoring the Phase I trial (NCT06546709).
Read more here.
Bringing together all pieces of the Lassa fever vaccine puzzle
CEPI | 29 January 2025
2024 saw great progress in developing the world’s first Lassa fever vaccine, with a CEPI-funded vaccine candidate entering Phase II trials in West Africa. Now, CEPI is working alongside regional partners to speed up the path to licensure and enable equitable access to future doses.
Read more here.
IAVI and IPD sign agreement formalizing collaboration to advance vaccine development, manufacturing, and access in Africa
IAVI | 13 December 2024
With the signing of this agreement, IAVI and IPD are establishing a collaboration to research, develop, manufacture, and commercialize a range of novel vaccine candidates for both endemic and emerging infectious disease (EID) threats – all manufactured using a common vaccine production platform. The IAVI-IPD partnership will initially focus on the manufacturing and commercialization of IAVI’s rVSV-Lassa vaccine candidate, with the potential to advance additional vaccine candidates.
Read more here.
Africa CDC and IAVI sign Memorandum of Understanding to enhance vaccine and antibody research capacity in Africa
IAVI | 25 September 2024
The new partnership brings together IAVI’s expertise in vaccine and antibody development and access and the extensive network and expertise of Africa CDC to tackle urgent public health challenges and promote long-term health security. Key initiatives under this MoU include supporting the development of vaccines and antibodies for regional health priorities, such as Lassa fever and HIV; fostering a sustainable supply and demand ecosystem for priority products including monoclonal antibodies in the region; strengthening African research and development capacity; and exploring regional stockpile strategies for licensed and investigational products to ensure rapid responses during health crises.
Read more here.
Lassa fever in Nigeria
The Lancet | 20 August 2024
Lassa fever is endemic in Nigeria; however, response efforts to outbreaks face several challenges including the late presentation of cases, high treatment costs, lack of reliable diagnostics, and inadequate environmental sanitation in high-burden areas.
Read more here.
How a new vaccine candidate could outpace Lassa fever’s deadly grip
Devex | 1 August 2024
The inaugural Phase 2 Lassa fever vaccine clinical trial, supported by CEPI and IAVI, commenced in Nigeria and Liberia.
Read more here.
Time to hope for a Lassa fever vaccine?
Vaccines Work, Gavi | 15 July 2024
Lassa fever is brutal, deadly, has pandemic potential, and is only getting more dangerous as the world’s climate changes. A vaccine can’t come soon enough. Is the candidate currently in Phase 2 trials in West Africa on track for success?
Read more here.
As CEPI ramps up vaccine research, a new study warns Lassa fever is set to expand its reach across Africa
CEPI | 11 October 2022
Climate change and other environmental factors could cause Lassa fever to spread to additional regions within Africa, new research predicts.
Read the full article here.
IAVI announces first vaccinations at Liberia site in Phase 1 clinical trial of Lassa fever vaccine candidate
IAVI | 31 August 2022
The trial is designed to evaluate the candidate’s safety, tolerability, and immunogenicity.
Read the full press release here.
EDCTP and CEPI funding moves IAVI’s Lassa fever vaccine candidate into advanced clinical development
IAVI | 14 June 2021
IAVI has received an award of €22.8 million from the European & Developing Countries Clinical Trials Partnership (EDCTP) and the Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations (CEPI) to conduct a Phase IIb clinical trial of a novel vaccine candidate to prevent Lassa fever disease.
Read the full press release here.
EDCTP and CEPI funding moves IAVI’s Lassa fever vaccine candidate into advanced clinical development
IAVI | 14 June 2021
IAVI has received an award of €22.8 million from the European & Developing Countries Clinical Trials Partnership (EDCTP) and the Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations (CEPI) to conduct a Phase IIb clinical trial of a novel vaccine candidate to prevent Lassa fever disease.
Read the full press release here.
IAVI and the Public Health Agency of Canada Enter into License Agreement for Technology to Enable Lassa Fever Vaccine Development
IAVI | 14 August 2028
IAVI to apply expertise in viral vector vaccines to Lassa Fever prevention effort.
Read the full press release here.
CEPI Partners with IAVI to Advance Lassa Fever Vaccines
IAVI | 21 May 2018
The Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations (CEPI) and IAVI announce partnership to develop a Lassa fever vaccine. Read the full press release here.
West African leaders commit to advance Lassa fever vaccine for the region
IAVI | 9 September 2025
Ministers of health from 11 West African countries pledged their joint commitment to advance the development of, and readiness for, much-needed vaccines against Lassa fever during a high-level roundtable meeting on the sidelines of the 2nd ECOWAS Lassa fever International Conference in Abidjan (ELFIC) on Sept. 8. The communiqué, endorsed by the Ministers, includes commitments to supporting the development of IAVI’s Lassa vaccine candidate through a collaborative co-funding approach and joint action to mobilize and secure resources through advocacy and regional coordination. This action offers an opportunity for IAVI, in partnership with West African health leaders and our partners and funders, to collectively build a global health partnership that can provide a new model to advance the development, and to ensure sustainable and affordable supply of, vaccines targeting diseases where there is no commercial incentive for private, for-profit companies to invest.
Read more here.
African Scientist on Course with Lassa Vaccine
NTAI News | 7 July 2024
Dr. Gaudensia Mutua, medical director at IAVI, spoke to NTAI News in Nigeria about the Phase 2a clinical trial of IAVI's Lassa fever vaccine candidate.
Watch it here.
New Lassa vaccine trial puts African experts at the helm
The Guardian, Nigeria | 9 May 2024
In this opinion piece, Dr. Gaudensia Mutua, medical director at IAVI, discusses the Phase 2a clinical trial of IAVI's Lassa fever vaccine candidate and the global collaboration with and leadership of African researchers in the development of this promising vaccine candidate.
World Zoonoses Day 2024: IAVI celebrates progress in Lassa vaccine development
IAVI | 5 July 2024
A series of publications highlights advancements in countermeasures for Lassa fever, an animal-borne illness.
Learn more here.
A Spiking Fever
Science | 22 February 2024
Read this article in Science for a recent commentary on surging cases of Lassa fever in West Africa and efforts across the field to tackle this growing health threat.
Participants in Nigeria vaccinated in first-ever Phase 2 Lassa fever vaccine clinical trial, sponsored by IAVI
IAVI | 4 April 2024
Read this press release to learn about the the CEPI-funded Phase 2a clinical trial that will evaluate the safety, tolerability, and immunogenicity of IAVI’s single dose Lassa fever vaccine candidate.