Preventing Ebola Outbreaks

Johnson & Johnson’s Response to the Deadly Ebola Virus

Ebola is a deadly disease that threatens African countries and can cross international borders if it isn’t contained. The 2014-2016 West Africa Ebola Outbreak, responsible for infecting more than 28,000 people and claiming more than 11,000 lives, was a global crisis that spurred the world into action. In response, scientists at Janssen quickly accelerated work on a vaccine, forged new partnerships and mobilized to conduct multiple studies across three continents.

In July 2020, the European Commission (EC) approved Johnson & Johnson’s Ebola vaccine regimen for the prevention of Ebola Virus Disease, completing the journey from the first clinical studies to approval by a stringent regulatory authority in just six years and marking the first major regulatory approval of a vaccine developed by Janssen. Johnson & Johnson is now collaborating with the World Health Organization (WHO) on vaccine pre-qualification, a stepping stone to registration in African countries and broader access to those most in need.

From August 2018 to June 2020, the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) faced the world’s second-largest Ebola outbreak on record. The DRC and its partners deployed Johnson & Johnson's Ebola vaccine regimen alongside other tools as part of an expansive public health effort that helped end the outbreak. To date, nearly 200,000 people worldwide have received the first dose of Johnson & Johnson’s Ebola vaccine regimen. In February 2021, new Ebola outbreaks were declared in the DRC and across the continent in Guinea, emphasizing more than ever the need for preventive vaccines.

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The preventive Ebola vaccine regimen developed by the Janssen Pharmaceutical Companies of Johnson & Johnson:

• Consists of a two-dose regimen leveraging different vaccines Ad26.ZEBOV and MVA-BN-Filo
• Is well tolerated and induces robust and durable immune responses to the Zaire ebolavirus species—the cause of both of the deadly outbreaks in the last six years.

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The Rwanda Ministry of Health’s UMURINIZI campaign is the first large-scale use of the Johnson & Johnson Vaccine Monitoring Platform, a digital tool that integrates innovative technologies to implement vaccination campaigns effectively and efficiently.

• Biometric iris scanning identification tracks each patient’s unique identification
• Management reporting dashboard tracks progress in near-real time
• Mobile phone messaging drives adherence and strong follow up with participant

Johnson & Johnson made a significant investment in the Janssen Ebola vaccine development program. We also forged strategic partnerships with a wide range of the world’s leading scientific and medical research organizations to accelerate our progress.

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