Inhalable Ebola Vaccine Looks Promising

Good news from the scientific front in the fight against Ebola. Researchers have determine that an inhalable version of an experimental Ebola vaccine is not only possible, its proven to be very promising in animal testing, doing just as well as an injected version.

That is according to a study recently published in the online edition of the journal Molecular Pharmaceutics, which details how seven years of research has led a team of experts to develop an inhalable Ebola vaccine with a 100 percent virus immunization among primate test subjects.

This fantastic news, is due to be presented at the American Association of Pharmaceutical Scientists (AAPS) Annual Meeting and Exposition In San Diego, tomorrow.

There researchers will discuss how a Zaire ebolavirus strain not unlike what is currently behind a pandemic in West Africa was still unable to punch through body defenses (something the virus is normally very good at) even 150 days after a single-dose treatment with the inhalable vaccine.

"There is a desperate need for a vaccine that not only prevents the continued transmission from person to person, but also aids in controlling future incidences," researcher Jonsson-Schmunk explained in a statement.

"The main advantage of our vaccine platform over the others in clinical testing is the long-lasting protection after a single inhaled dose," added study co-author Maria Coyle. "This is important since the longevity of other vaccines for Ebola that are currently being evaluated is not fully evaluated. Moreover, this immunization method is more attractive than an injectable vaccine given the costs associated with syringe distribution and needle safety and disposal."

That last bit is a strong sell for this inhalable vaccine to move to human testing. As things stand, it's already difficult for health officials to get some suspicious West African's trusting of Ebola treatment. And easily shipped and easily distributed inhaled vaccine seems significantly more preferable over stabbing citizens in the arm one-by-one.