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Sabin Begins Marburg Vaccine Trial in U.S.

WASHINGTON, April 16, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — The Sabin Vaccine Institute has launched a multi–site Phase 2 clinical trial in the U.S. for its Marburg vaccine candidate, administering doses to the first participants in Melbourne, Florida. This trial builds on ongoing Phase 2 testing in Kenya and Uganda, with initial findings from that research expected in the coming months.

Sabin’s vaccine development efforts, including clinical trials, are becoming increasingly critical as Marburg outbreaks grow in frequency, underscoring the urgent need for vaccines to protect those at highest risk. Sabin supported an open–label Phase 2 clinical trial sponsored by the Rwanda Biomedical Centre (RBC) by supplying the investigational vaccine during Rwanda’s 2024 Marburg outbreak. More than 1,700 individuals — primarily frontline health care workers — were vaccinated, with first doses arriving within nine days of the outbreak being declared. Data from the RBC trial will be shared with Sabin to support the vaccine’s licensure.

Rwanda’s outbreak ended on December 20 with a case fatality rate of 23%, lower than the historical average of 50%. Fatality rates in outbreaks can vary due to multiple factors, including greater surveillance, prompt detection, supportive care, and the overall response effort. On January 20, Tanzania declared an outbreak of Marburg virus disease, which ended on March 13.

Currently, there are no approved vaccines for Marburg virus disease.

For the U.S. clinical trial that began this week, Sabin will recruit 200 volunteers aged 18 to 70 across four locations – in addition to Melbourne, the vaccine will be tested at sites in Dallas, Texas; Huntsville, Alabama; and Peoria, Illinois. The randomized, placebo–controlled, double–blind trial will continue to evaluate safety and immunogenicity, and will monitor vaccinated volunteers for a year.

“Recent outbreaks highlight the urgent need to strengthen our defenses against this deadly and unforgiving disease,” says Amy Finan, Sabin’s Chief Executive Officer. “Sabin’s Phase 2 clinical trials will generate essential data to move this vaccine closer to licensure — and offer a potentially life–saving tool where none exists.”

Marburg is a filovirus, in the same family as the virus that causes Ebola. Like Ebola, Marburg virus disease spreads via direct contact with the blood or other bodily fluids of infected individuals. It is highly virulent and causes hemorrhagic fever.

“Conducting clinical trials in Africa is key to evaluating the vaccine in regions where Marburg and other filoviruses are most common or endemic,” notes Kelly Warfield, Sabin’s President of Research & Development. “The U.S. trial will give us vital safety and immune response data for non–endemic populations, helping us better prepare for outbreaks and spread of this disease.”

Based on the cAd3 platform, Sabin’s single–dose investigational Marburg vaccine was found to be promising in Phase 1 clinical and non–clinical studies, with results showing it to be safe, while eliciting rapid and robust immune responses.

The Marburg vaccine trials are supported by the Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority (BARDA), part of the Administration for Strategic Preparedness and Response within the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, under multi–year contracts between the organizations.

BARDA and Sabin began working together in September 2019 to develop monovalent vaccine candidates for Marburg virus and Sudan virus diseases. To date, Sabin has received around $252 million in contract awards from BARDA for furthering vaccine research and development against these two disease threats.

A Phase 2 clinical trial for Sabin’s Sudan virus vaccine is underway in Uganda and Kenya. The cAd3 Sudan vaccine candidate will also be tested among adult volunteers in the U.S. later this year.

This project has been supported in whole or in part with federal funds from the Department of Health and Human Services; Administration for Strategic Preparedness and Response; Center for the Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority (BARDA), under contract numbers 75A50119C00055 and 75A50123C00010.

For information about Sabin’s Phase 2 Marburg vaccine trials, visit:
Clinicaltrials.gov — NCT06620003 (U.S. trial)
Clinical.trials.gov — NCT05817422 (Uganda and Kenya trial)
Pan African Clinical Trials Registry — PACTR202306534727467 (Uganda and Kenya trial)

About the Sabin Vaccine Institute

The Sabin Vaccine Institute is a leading advocate for expanding vaccine access and uptake globally, advancing vaccine research and development, and amplifying vaccine knowledge and innovation. Unlocking the potential of vaccines through partnership, Sabin has built a robust ecosystem of funders, innovators, implementers, practitioners, policy makers and public stakeholders to advance its vision of a future free from preventable diseases. As a non–profit with three decades of experience, Sabin is committed to finding solutions that last and extending the full benefits of vaccines to all people, regardless of who they are or where they live. At Sabin, we believe in the power of vaccines to change the world. For more information, visit www.sabin.org and follow us on X @SabinVaccine.

About Sabin’s Vaccine R&D and the cAd3 Platform

In August 2019, Sabin announced exclusive agreements with GSK for Sabin to advance the development of the prophylactic candidate vaccines against the deadly Zaire ebolavirus, Sudan virus, and Marburg virus. The three candidate vaccines were initially developed collaboratively by the U.S. National Institutes of Health and Okairos, which was acquired by GSK in 2013. The candidate vaccines, based on GSK’s proprietary cAd3 (Chimpanzee Adenovirus Type 3) platform, were further developed by GSK, including the Phase 2 development for the Zaire ebolavirus vaccine. Under the agreements between GSK and Sabin, Sabin exclusively licensed the technology for all three candidate vaccines and acquired certain patent rights specific to these vaccines.

Media Contact:
Monika Guttman
Senior Media Relations Specialist
Sabin Vaccine Institute
+1 (202) 621–1691
[email protected]

A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/cdb8a6cd–2ff2–49bd–aeb4–43e859c1b44f


GLOBENEWSWIRE (Distribution ID 9423434)

Minovia Therapeutics Announces FDA Clearance of Second IND Application, for a Phase II Clinical Trial of Lead Product MNV-201 in Pearson Syndrome

MNV–201 is Minovia’s second generation mitochondrial cell therapy product composed of autologous hematopoietic stem cells enriched with allogeneic mitochondria

Rare Pediatric Designation granted

MNV–201 is also being studied in a Phase Ib for low–risk Myelodysplastic Syndrome; Preliminary clinical data demonstrate safety and efficacy

HAIFA, Israel, April 03, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Minovia Therapeutics Ltd, a clinical stage biopharmaceutical company advancing mitochondrial therapies for primary and secondary mitochondrial diseases, today announced that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has cleared its second Investigational New Drug (IND) application for MNV–201, an autologous hematopoietic stem cell product augmented with allogeneic mitochondria. The IND supports the initiation of a Phase II clinical trial of MNV–201 in pediatric patients with Pearson Syndrome, a primary mitochondrial disease.

Based on previous clinical experience from the 1st generation product, MNV–101 (autologous hematopoietic stem cell product augmented with syngeneic maternal mitochondria), Minovia designed this phase II study with change in growth (height SDS) as primary endpoint. According to the natural history study recently published by Dr. Rebecca Ganetzky from CHOP, all patients with Pearson Syndrome suffer from failure to thrive and do not respond to growth hormone. Natural history shows an annual reduction of 0.5 units in height SDS, while MNV–101 treated patients showed stabilization or improvement, with no decline of height SDS at the 6 and 12 month follow up time points in a comparable subset of patients. This change in growth correlated with an improved International Pediatric Mitochondrial Disease Scale (IPMDS), which measures how the patient feels and functions (R2=0.9; p=0.0036). Linear growth was also suggested as an objective and clinically meaningful endpoint for a pivotal trial in Pearson by the FDA in early interactions.

“The FDA’s clearance of our IND marks an important achievement for Minovia, allowing us to clinically evaluate our allogeneic mitochondrial cell therapy approach and proceed with the Phase II clinical program for this first–in–class allogeneic mitochondrial therapy for Pearson Syndrome patients,” said Natalie Yivgi Ohana, PhD, CEO of Minovia. “We are pleased to have safely dosed three Pearson patients enrolled in an ongoing study under the Israeli Ministry of Health. We look forward to treating additional patients under this IND, as well as to learning about the potential of MNV–201 to improve growth in this patient population.”

“We are pleased that our cumulative interactions with the FDA enabled alignment on requirements for the entire MNV–201 program, including preclinical, CMC, and clinical aspects,” said Noa Sher, PhD, CSO of Minovia. “Early clinical and regulatory experience with MNV–101 shaped the current program and enabled a successful IND submission.”

The Phase II clinical trial is an open–label, single dose study to evaluate the safety and efficacy of MNV–201 in pediatric subjects diagnosed with Pearson Syndrome. The trial will also enable assessment of efficacy in improving growth and quality of life. The study is expected to enroll three additional patients up to a total of 6 patients. For more information visit clinicaltirals.gov

About MNV–201
MNV–201 is an autologous hematopoietic stem cell product enriched with allogeneic mitochondria. MNV–201 aims to restore mitochondrial function in patient hematopoietic stem cells, resulting in improved differentiation and function. Preclinical research suggests the potential for safe dosing with low immunogenicity risk and scalable manufacturing to address the significant number of patients who are potentially eligible for MNV–201 therapy.

About Pearson Syndrome
Pearson Syndrome is a multisystem progressive pediatric mitochondrial disease caused by single large–scale mitochondrial deletions (SLSMDS) of mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA), with consequent defects in the mitochondrial respiratory chain function. Pearson Syndrome classically presents in the first year of life with bone marrow failure and exocrine pancreatic dysfunction. Patients have macrocytic sideroblastic anemia that is frequently transfusion–dependent and may be accompanied by thrombocytopenia and neutropenia. Pancreatic dysfunction occurs secondary to fibrosis and leads to chronic diarrhea, malabsorption, and failure to thrive. Pearson Syndrome is marked by accumulating organ system involvement and worsening disease: variable other organ involvement can occur, including renal tubulopathy, liver cholestasis and/or fibrosis, adrenal insufficiency, diabetes mellitus, cardiomegaly, and/or cardiac conduction defects. Pearson Syndrome is universally fatal and since there is no effective therapy, the diagnosis of Pearson Syndrome is one of the worst diagnoses that a caregiver must deliver to parents of an affected infant. MNV–201 aims to reduce disease–associated symptoms and the risk of disease progression and death, thereby improving both lifespan and quality of life.

About Minovia Therapeutics
Minovia Therapeutics Ltd. is a clinical stage biotechnology company advancing mitochondrial therapies for primary–genetic and age–related mitochondrial diseases. Minovia's clinical stage product candidate, MNV–201, is composed of mobilized peripheral blood, autologous CD34+ cells enriched with allogeneic, cryopreserved placental derived mitochondria, produced by Minovia's proprietary Mitochondrial Augmentation Technology (MAT). The enrichment of hematopoietic stem cells with healthy and functional mitochondria aims to restore stem cells function of patients suffering mitochondrial dysfunction, caused both by mtDNA mutations or deletions in pediatric patients suffering from primary mitochondrial diseases, or in adults with age–related diseases. MNV–201 is currently in clinical studies for pediatric patients with single–large scale mtDNA deletion syndromes (Pearson Syndrome and Kearn Sayre Syndrome) with five patients successfully dosed; and in Low Risk Myelodysplastic Syndrome. For more information, please visit www.minoviatx.com or follow the Company LinkedIn.

Contact Information: Natalie Yivgi Ohana, Co–Founder and CEO

Phone: +972–74–7039954

Email: [email protected]


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