Epstein-Barr Virus Vaccine 2023

Epstein-Barr virus Vaccine June 2023

Epstein-Barr virus (EBV), also known as human herpesvirus 4, is a member of the herpes virus family, says the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Most people get infected with EBV at some point in their lives. However, as of April 21, 2023, the are no approved Epstein-Barr virus vaccines, says National Institutes of Health (NIH). “A vaccine that could prevent or reduce the severity of infection with the Epstein-Barr virus could reduce the incidence of infectious mononucleosis and might also reduce the incidence of EBV-associated malignancies and autoimmune diseases,” commented Anthony S. Fauci, M.D., on May 6, 2022.

Epstein-Barr virus Vaccine Candidates

The National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) launched an early-stage clinical trial on May 6, 2022, evaluating an investigational preventative gp350-Ferritin nanoparticle vaccine for EBV. The Phase 1 clinical study is conducted at the NIH Clinical Center in Maryland. Last Update Posted on November 17, 2022.

MDX-2201 leverages ModeX’s innovative biologics platform to target multiple EBV proteins. OPKO Health, Inc. entered into an exclusive worldwide license and collaboration agreement with Merck to develop MDX-2201.

A panel of investigational monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) targeting different sites of the EBV blocked infection when tested in human cells in a laboratory setting. Moreover, one of the experimental mAbs ( EBV gH/gL 769B10) provided nearly complete protection against EBV infection and lymphoma when tested in mice. The study results were published in the journal Immunity on October 27, 2022. Our findings provide structural and antigenic knowledge of the viral fusion machinery, yield a potential therapeutic antibody to prevent EBV disease, and emphasize gH/gL as a target for herpesvirus vaccines and therapeutics, wrote these researchers.