Rift Valley fever vaccines to advance with new $50M funding from Europe

Norway-based Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations (CEPI) has launched its second phase of funding to advance the development of innovative vaccine programmes against the mosquito-borne viral disease, Rift Valley fever. Including EUR 35 million financial support provided by the European Union Horizon Europe programme, up to EUR 50 million in total will be made available by CEPI to support promising Rift Valley fever vaccine candidates through Phase I and II clinical trials in endemic areas. Since its first identification, Rift Valley fever outbreaks have typically occurred in 4–15-year climatic cycles, linked to periods of rainfall surges creating more breeding sites for infected mosquitoes. During the last two decades, the virus has continued to expand its range across Africa and into new regions within endemic countries. There is concern that further climate change and extreme weather events could create the necessary conditions to expand the number and size of regions affected. Despite veterinary vaccines being available, no vaccines are currently approved for human use. CEPI has, to date, supported two programmes with Wageningen University and Colorado State University to advance human Rift Valley fever vaccines.