Scientists at the National Microbiology Lab in Winnipeg, Manitoba, prepare an experimental Ebola vaccine for shipment to the World Health Organization (WHO) in Geneva in this undated handout picture released October 18, 2014.
Scientists at the National Microbiology Lab in Winnipeg, Manitoba, prepare an experimental Ebola vaccine for shipment to the World Health Organization (WHO) in Geneva in this undated handout picture released October 18, 2014. Reuters

A small setback has been reported in the clinical trial of Canadian Ebola vaccine. In Switzerland, the clinical triial of the Canadian vaccine has been suspended after unexpected side-effects were reported in a few people tested for the serum.

The Canadian vaccine was designed by scientists at Canada's National Microbiology Laboratory at Winnipeg and donated to the WHO by the Canadian government. Pharmaceutical giant Merck holds the licence for it, which was acquired from NewLink Genetics, the Iowa-based biotech company, which developed the vaccine.

Mild Symptoms

According to the Swiss researcher Dr. Angela Huttner, four out of 59 people vaccinated in the Geneva-based trial, reported high pain in the joints of fingers and toes, after 10 to 15 days of the serum shot. She said the symptoms were mild, yet the team wanted to see what is going on before testing it on more volunteers, reports Canada News. While three persons reportedly received the lower level of doses in Geneva; the dose level of the fourth person is not known because it was a "blind" part of the trial, where the researchers can learn the results only after analysing the trial results.

The trial is now scheduled to resume on Jan 5 at the University Hospital of Geneva, according to a news release. But Huttner assured that none of the four who experienced the side-effects were seriously ill. "I can tell you they are all doing really well. These are people who are working. They're functioning just fine. These are very minor finding," she said. Huttner said people do experience joint pain after having a viral infection or receiving a vaccination. It is common among women who are vaccinated for Rubella. The Swiss doctor said the side-effects was acceptable, but it only wanted to watch how common it is and how severe it might be.

Halifax Trial

Only the Swiss trial of the Ebola vaccine has been suspended. All other trials are on, as scheduled. It has been confirmed that the trial in Halifax will go ahead at the IWK Health Centre. Halifax is the only centre planned for the trial of the vaccine in Canada. "There is no change to the Canadian study," reported Cbc. Ca News quoting hospital spokesperson Ben Maycock.

The Halifax researchers have not spotted any side effects after administering the vaccine to Nova Scotia volunteers, said Maycock. The vaccine dose in the Switzerland trial might have been three times higher than the highest dose in Halifax, according to the latest update by the Canadian Centre for Vaccinology on Thursday.