NewLink, Merck, Department of Health and Human Services infectious news

HHS’s Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority (BARDA) exercised an option under a 2014 contract with NewLink to develop rVSV-ZEBOV-GP Ebola vaccine ( RVSV-EBOV, V920). Under the exercised option, BARDA will provide $21.6 million to support clinical bridging studies to assess the vaccine’s safety, immunogenicity and efficacy in populations different from the original testing region. The latest option exercise brings BARDA’s total commitment under the contract to $74.6 million (see BioCentury, Jan. 19, 2015 & Oct. 26, 2015). ...