Marburg Virus Prophylactic Medical Countermeasure

Through this STTR contract, we propose to evaluate the efficacy of our vaccine, FlowVax Marburg, in nonhuman primates (NHPs). This will be achieved through four Tasks. In Task 1, we will manufacture the vaccine in a quantity sufficient for the animal studies. In Task 2, we will perform MHC genotyping on a representative population of NHPs and, based on results, select a set of MHC-matched NHPs for ensuing dose escalation and challenge studies. In Task 3, we will perform a dose escalation study in NHPs via direct lymph node immunization followed by aerosol challenge to a lethal dose of Marburg virus in order to assess efficacy. Finally, in Task 4, we will perform a dose escalation study in NHPs via intranasal immunization followed by aerosol challenge to a lethal dose of MARV in order to assess vaccine efficacy through this alternative mode of administration. This will allow us to compare the efficacy of FlowVax Marburg delivered by direct lymph node injection (Task 3) to intranasal delivery (representing a more practical method of vaccine delivery in humans).