GSK/NIAID Ebola vaccine gets grant for trials

The Wellcome Trust, the Medical Research Council and the U.K.'s Department for International Development provided a L2.8 million ($4.6 million) grant to fund trials of an Ebola vaccine candidate from GlaxoSmithKline plc (LSE:GSK; NYSE:GSK) and NIH's National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID). The candidate is based on chimp adenovirus type 3 (ChAd3), an attenuated strain of chimpanzee cold virus.

Trials could begin next month if the candidate receives ethical and regulatory approvals. Studies will take place in the U.S., U.K., and West Africa. GSK will simultaneously manufacture 10,000 additional doses for the World Health Organization to create an emergency immunization program. ...