Nigeria is set to host the first clinical trials for a new Lassa fever treatment in nearly 40 years, marking a significant step forward in combating this deadly disease.

The trials, scheduled to commence in September at the Federal Medical Centre, Owo (FMCO) in Ondo State, aim to address the lack of effective treatments since ribavirin was approved in 1986.

“It’s important to get new treatments to avoid severe cases. By having new drugs that treat the Lassa fever virus better, the need for supportive treatments for some patients who develop acute kidney injury, and cardiovascular respiratory complications, will be reduced.”
Dr Femi Ayodeji, FMCO’s Head of Infection Control and Research.

Lassa fever, a neglected tropical disease endemic in West Africa, claims approximately 5,000 lives annually.

The disease poses a significant epidemic threat to global health, with between 300,000 and 500,000 cases reported each year in the region.

The fatality rate is around 1%, but rises to 15% among hospitalized patients with severe cases.

The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC) has recorded 6,226 suspected cases and 160 deaths so far this year. More than 60% of these cases are in Ondo, Edo and Bauchi states.

Dr Manir Jega, the Director of Health at the Nigerian Red Cross Society, said the figures are a cause for serious concern because some states are “ill-equipped to handle an outbreak”.

The trials are being conducted by the Integrate consortium, comprising 15 leading research institutes, health centers, and humanitarian organizations from 10 countries.

Dr Marie Jaspard, an infectious disease Specialist at Saint-Antoine hospital in Paris, and clinical researcher for the French institute Inserm, who is involved in the trials, said, “We will evaluate several other projects [drugs] against ribavirin … The interest of this trial is that we can remove some treatment arms that are not working and add new treatments. We will not waste time and patience with drugs that are not working.”

She said finding new ways to treat the virus were important as more deadly strains were emerging in the region, most recently in Benin, which recorded higher death rates.

Opeyemi Onupona, 36, almost died from Lassa fever last year. She was rushed to FMCO, one of five Nigerian hospitals equipped to treat the disease. “I was scared that my husband and two children had contracted the disease too.” Onupona said.

She added, “But, fortunately for us, their test results were negative.”

This initiative seeks to evaluate the efficacy of new and existing drugs against Lassa fever, with the goal of identifying treatments that are more effective than ribavirin, whose efficacy has recently been questioned.

Trials Effort To Equip Healthcare Professionals With Skills

The trials are part of a broader effort to equip healthcare professionals with the skills and facilities needed to combat various viral diseases, including Ebola and Covid-19, thereby enhancing global preparedness for future outbreaks.

Furthermore, Nigeria is also participating in the first Phase 2 clinical trial of a Lassa fever vaccine candidate, sponsored by International AIDS Vaccine Initiative (IAVI) and funded by Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations (CEPI).

This trial involves vaccinating participants in Nigeria, Ghana, and Liberia, aiming to evaluate the safety, tolerability, and immunogenicity of the vaccine.

The involvement of Nigerian clinicians, scientists, and community members underscores the importance of incorporating local context and perspectives into vaccine development efforts.

These initiatives highlight Nigeria’s commitment to addressing Lassa fever and other viral diseases through research and innovation, reflecting the country’s role as a leader in regional health security efforts.

Jaspard said, “The very long-term goal is that we find drugs to combat several viruses like Ebola and Covid-19. The more we find solutions against viruses, such as diagnosis, treatments and vaccines, the more we’ll be prepared for the next outbreak.”