Oxford experts and J&J get $19m to create vaccines against three deadly viruses
The Janssen vaccines unit and specialists at the Jenner Institute were involved in developing an Ebola vaccine in 2014, and the hope is that some of that experience will speed up work
London — A global coalition set up to fight emerging epidemics said on Thursday it would give up to $19m to drug maker Johnson & Johnson's vaccine unit and Oxford University experts, to work on immunisations against three major diseases. Research will focus on the deadly Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (Mers) virus, the brain-damaging Nipah virus and the Lassa virus, which causes haemorrghagic fever, the Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations (Cepi) said. Both J&J's Janssen vaccines unit and specialists at Oxford's Jenner Institute were involved in the development of vaccines against Ebola during the 2014 West Africa outbreak. The hope is that some of that experience will speed up work against new emerging infectious diseases, Cepi's CEO Richard Hatchett said in a statement. Mers first emerged in humans in Saudi Arabia in 2012 and has since spread to infect more than 2,200 people in dozens of countries. The vast majority of the cases - around 1,800 of them - have been in S...
Would you like to comment on this article?
Sign up (it's quick and free) or sign in now.
Please read our Comment Policy before commenting.
Subscribe now to unlock this article.
Support BusinessLIVE’s award-winning journalism for R129 per month (digital access only).
There’s never been a more important time to support independent journalism in SA. Our subscription packages now offer an ad-free experience for readers.
Cancel anytime.
Questions? Email helpdesk@businesslive.co.za or call 0860 52 52 00. Got a subscription voucher? Redeem it now.