A significant milestone has been reached in the fight against Lassa fever, a deadly virus endemic in West Africa, as the first volunteer received a dose in a first‑in‑human trial of Oxford’s Lassa vaccine. The trial, conducted by the Oxford Vaccine Group and funded by the Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations (CEPI), aims to assess the safety and immune response of the ChAdOx1 Lassa vaccine. Developed by researchers at the Pandemic Sciences Institute, University of Oxford, the vaccine uses the same viral‑vector platform as the Oxford/AstraZeneca COVID‑19 vaccine, which is estimated to have saved six million lives in its first year.
The study will involve 31 participants aged 18‑55 and is being carried out in Oxford, with a second phase‑1 trial scheduled to begin in Ghana early next year. Lassa fever, caused by the Lassa virus and primarily spread by rodents, can lead to severe illness, including deafness, bleeding and death. The World Health Organization has identified Lassa fever as a priority pathogen requiring research and development because of its potential to cause large outbreaks. In 2025, Nigeria recorded 995 confirmed cases and 184 deaths from the disease.
The Oxford Vaccine Group, part of the Department of Paediatrics at the University of Oxford, has a proven track record in vaccine development, having led the rapid clinical development of COVID‑19 vaccines during the pandemic. CEPI, an innovative partnership among public, private, philanthropic and civil organisations, supported the early pre‑clinical development of the Lassa vaccine and is committed to accelerating vaccines against epidemic and pandemic threats.
Health experts have welcomed the launch of the trial. Prof. Maheshi Ramasamy, chief investigator, said vaccines are a powerful tool in global health, saving lives and stopping outbreaks. Dr. Katrin Ramsauer, Lassa Disease Programme Lead at CEPI, noted that the clinical study brings us closer to a future where communities no longer live in fear of Lassa fever. The development of a Lassa fever vaccine is a crucial step toward protecting vulnerable populations from the disease’s devastating impact.
With regional leadership and coordination by the Lassa Fever Coalition, plans are advancing a Lassa vaccine toward licensure, aiming for equitable introduction across the affected region. The West African Health Organisation, in partnership with CEPI and other stakeholders, is working to accelerate the development and rollout of Lassa fever vaccines, bringing hope to communities that have suffered from the disease for over half a century.
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