Sir Andrew Witty, the chief executive of GSK, has said that new clinical data published was “very encouraging” and that a viable vaccine could be available in the second half of next year – If these early trials continue to provide positive results.
He told BBC “Tonight there is a glimmer of hope – the first evidence that a vaccine could be available for health workers and others battling to bring the virus under control. Ultimately, it could mean a vaccine for everyone in areas at risk.” “Whether it’s a breakthrough depends on making sure that all the rest of data over the next few weeks and months is in line. But this certainly gives us very significant cause for optimism.
“We’ve been looking at a potential Ebola vaccine, we’ve been looking at its basic safety and whether or not it can generate an immune response in healthy volunteers – and the data is very encouraging.
“It’s the first piece of what will be a jigsaw of information that we are going to gather over the next five or six weeks before we move to the next stage.” “The unprecedented scale of the current Ebola outbreak in West Africa has intensified efforts to develop safe and effective vaccines, which may play a role in bringing this epidemic to an end and undoubtedly will be critically important in preventing future large outbreaks.”
