Marburg Virus Vaccine Development Advances in Senegal
As Ghana reported its first cases of the virulent Marburg virus, Senegal is taking a leading role in the African response to several high-risk diseases, including Ebola, Marburg, Lassa fever, and meningococcal meningitis. A key component of this effort is the development of a Marburg virus vaccine at the Institut Pasteur de Dakar, with support from an American laboratory through a technology transfer agreement.
The Threat of Marburg Virus
Marburg virus, a close relative of Ebola, causes severe hemorrhagic fever with a fatality rate that can reach 88%.1 Outbreaks are sporadic but pose a significant threat to public health in Africa. Currently, there is no widely available vaccine for Marburg virus, though research is underway to change that.
Institut Pasteur de Dakar Leads Vaccine Development
Researchers at the Institut Pasteur de Dakar in Senegal are working to finalize a Marburg virus vaccine candidate. This project represents a strategic move towards health sovereignty for the African continent. The development is based on the same principles as the Ebola vaccine and is designed to require a single dose.1
Technology Transfer and Collaboration
The vaccine development process began at Public Health Vaccines, a U.S. Public laboratory, before a transfer of skills and technology to Dakar. According to Dr. Marie-Angélique Sène, head of the vaccine research center, the Institut Pasteur de Dakar is scaling up the production process from laboratory scale to industrial scale.1 “We have already completed most of the more complicated steps and we are preparing to restart the bioreactor runs to complete this process development and initiate preparation for phase 1 of clinical trials,” she stated.1
The official technology transfer occurred in December 2025, building on earlier collaboration. Researchers from the American laboratory provided protocols and processes, and the teams are working together to validate the results.1
A Multi-Disease Response Platform
This collaboration marks the first of its kind for a viral vaccine at the Institut Pasteur de Dakar. The institute already has expertise in vaccine production, including vaccines for measles and rubella, and serves as a collaborating center for the World Health Organization (WHO).1 Ndeye Marie Mba, head of the cell-based vaccine platform, explained that the goal is to create a platform that can rapidly produce vaccines for various diseases.1
Health Sovereignty and Local Production
Ibrahima Fall, the general administrator of the Institut Pasteur de Dakar, emphasized the importance of local vaccine production for health sovereignty. “We cannot wait for diseases like this to be diagnosed by European laboratories, or for the tools to be developed by European laboratories,” he said.1 Local production ensures access to vaccines, even when global supply chains are disrupted, as seen during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Future Production at Diamniadio Vaccinopole
The Institut Pasteur de Dakar aims to produce the Marburg vaccine at the Diamniadio vaccinopole, located in the suburbs of Dakar, and promises an affordable cost.1
Recent outbreaks of Marburg fever have been reported in countries including Ghana, Tanzania, and Equatorial Guinea, highlighting the urgent need for effective vaccines and rapid response capabilities.4