Themis Bioscience, an Austrian biotech company, has started a phase 1 trial for its vaccine candidate MV-LASV against Lassa fever, through the first administration to healthy volunteers, it was reported yesterday.

The company is collaborating with the Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations (CEPI) for the development of the MV-LASV Lassa fever vaccine candidate.

The phase 1 trial for the product is a randomised, placebo-controlled, dose-finding study that will have 60 healthy adult participants. The early-stage clinical trial is being conducted by the Centre for the Evaluation of Vaccination in Antwerp, Belgium. It will evaluate the safety, tolerability and immunogenicity of MV-LASV after administration of two different dose levels.

The vaccine programme is funded by a global partnership forged by Themis with CEPI that will support the development of the MV-LASV vaccine candidate until the end of phase 2.