Researchers at the Oxford Vaccine Group have started human testing of a new Lassa fever vaccine, a development that could significantly reduce illness and deaths across West Africa. The first dose was administered to a volunteer in the United Kingdom at Oxford, through the University of Oxford’s Department of Paediatrics.
The study marks the first-in-human clinical trial of the ChAdOx1 Lassa vaccine, funded by the Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations (CEPI). Thirty-one healthy adults aged 18–55 are participating in Oxford, with a second phase-1 trial planned in Ghana in early 2026.
Chief Investigator at Oxford, Ramasamy Maheshi, described the study as a “crucial step toward protecting vulnerable communities,” noting that the vaccine uses the same platform as the Oxford/AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine.
On his part, CEPI’s Lassa Disease Programme Lead, Katrin Ramsauer, called the launch a “transformative milestone” and highlighted efforts to accelerate vaccine licensure and ensure equitable access.
Public health authorities in Nigeria, including the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC), continue to report seasonal Lassa fever outbreaks. If successful, the vaccine could become one of the first licensed preventive vaccines, reducing illness, deaths, and socioeconomic disruption in West Africa.
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