IAVI

Our approach

We take a full-circle approach to product development, from the grassroots level to the lab to legislative bodies.

Mission

To translate scientific discoveries into affordable, globally accessible public health solutions.

Vision

A world where all people have equitable access to innovative vaccines and therapeutics.

Our health areas

  • HIV
  • Tuberculosis
  • Lassa fever
  • Marburg virus
  • Sudan Ebolavirus
  • COVID-19

HIV

The challenge

HIV/AIDS remains one of the deadliest infectious diseases, with 1.3 million people acquiring HIV in 2022. Given the complexities of HIV, traditional approaches to vaccine development have so far failed to result in a vaccine that provides protection against HIV. However, a vaccine is still needed to bring a true end to the HIV pandemic. Source: UNAIDS

Our solution

IAVI scientists and our collaborators are developing next-generation HIV vaccines to address the challenges of HIV vaccine design. Together, we have pioneered promising new vaccination strategies and the discovery of broadly neutralizing antibodies (bnAbs) against HIV. IAVI and our partners are developing HIV bnAbs to prevent HIV acquisition while we advance vaccine candidates.

Tuberculosis

The challenge

Tuberculosis (TB) is the world’s leading infectious disease killer. In 2022, 10.6 million people fell ill with TB and 1.3 million people died of TB disease. The only available TB vaccine is the century-old Bacille Calmette-Guérin, or BCG. While this vaccine has efficacy in protecting against severe TB disease in infants and young children, it is largely ineffective in adolescents and adults, among whom most transmission and disease occurs. Source: WHO

Our solution

IAVI works across our global hubs with a diverse network of partners to advance the most promising TB vaccine candidates from discovery through clinical trials, and eventually, to post-licensure access. Our work extends to policy and advocacy initiatives that support TB vaccine development and access in regions where new vaccines are needed most.

Lassa fever

The challenge

Lassa fever is an acute viral hemorrhagic illness endemic to West Africa that causes significant annual outbreaks of disease. Lassa fever is difficult to diagnose, and surveillance data is limited. Current estimates range from 300,000 to 500,000 cases and 5,000 related deaths each year. No licensed vaccines for Lassa fever exist. Source: WHO

Our solution

IAVI is developing a single-dose vaccine candidate for Lassa that is based on a recombinant vesicular stomatitis virus (rVSV) vector. This technology is similar to that underlying an approved Ebola Zaire virus vaccine. IAVI’s Lassa vaccine candidate was well tolerated and immunogenic over a wide dose range in a Phase I clinical study. IAVI also conducts Lassa epidemiological studies and modeling to support future vaccine access.

Marburg virus

The challenge

Marburg virus is a filovirus and the causative agent of Marburg virus disease (MVD), which has a case fatality ratio of up to 88%. Marburg virus has the capacity to cause outbreaks with high fatality rates and is a potential bioterror threat. No vaccines or antiviral treatments are approved for MVD. A Marburg vaccine is urgently needed to respond to future outbreaks. Source: WHO

Our solution

IAVI is developing a vaccine candidate for Marburg that is based on a recombinant vesicular stomatitis virus (rVSV) vector. This technology is similar to that underlying an approved Ebola Zaire virus vaccine, which is now approved by the U.S. FDA and registered for use in several African countries. Preclinical data demonstrates that IAVI’s Marburg vaccine candidate is highly protective in an animal model with one dose.

Sudan Ebolavirus

The challenge

Sudan ebolavirus is a filovirus and causes outbreaks of Ebola disease, most recently in 2022 in Uganda. Case fatality rates of Ebola disease caused by Sudan ebolavirus have varied from 41% to 100% in past outbreaks. The licensed vaccine for Ebola Zaire virus does not provide cross protection against the Sudan strain. An Ebola Sudan vaccine is urgently needed to prevent and respond to future outbreaks. Source: WHO

Our solution

IAVI is developing a vaccine candidate for Sudan ebolavirus that is based on a recombinant vesicular stomatitis virus (rVSV) vector similar to the technology underlying an approved Ebola Zaire virus vaccine. During the 2022 Ebola outbreak in Uganda, the WHO selected IAVI’s Sudan ebolavirus vaccine candidate for a planned ring vaccination trial. While the trial did not go forward due to outbreak control, IAVI has continued clinical development to prepare for future outbreaks.

COVID-19

The challenge

Since December 2019, over 760 million cases of COVID-19 and 6.9 million deaths have been recorded worldwide, but the actual number is thought to be higher. While highly effective, approved COVID-19 vaccines do not fully block transmission or breakthrough infection. Additional COVID-19 vaccines continue to be an urgent need, particularly vaccines suitable for widespread use in middle and low-income countries. Source: WHO

Our solution

IAVI is developing a COVID-19 vaccine candidate that is based on a recombinant vesicular stomatitis virus (rVSV) vector. The vaccine candidate has demonstrated safety in humans when administered intramuscularly and has been produced at scale to support larger future clinical trials. IAVI is also investigating an intranasal formulation of our COVID-19 vaccine candidate to prevent infection.

Our impact

We conduct preclinical and clinical trials of our own vaccines and antibodies. Our focus is on diseases of global importance for which there is no market and little financial incentive for development. We also collaborate with and support other scientific organizations to conduct their own clinical trials of priority disease prevention and therapeutic interventions.

255 partners from academic, biotech, pharma sectors, civil society, and global health initiatives

53 biologics candidates supported by the IAVI Product Development Center, out of which 25 advanced to clinical trials

70,000 volunteers enrolled in observational epidemiology studies

Our locations

IAVI Africa

  • Cape Town Office, South Africa
  • Nairobi Office, Kenya

IAVI Europe

  • Amsterdam Office, The Netherlands
  • Human Immunology Lab, London, U.K.

IAVI India

  • Gurugram, Haryana Office
  • Antibody Translational Research Program, IAVI-THSTI, Faridabad

IAVI U.S.

  • New York Office
  • Vaccine Design & Development Lab, New York
  • Neutralizing Antibody Center, California

Recent news & media

Features

Looking ahead to one of our busiest weeks of the year: IAVI at the International AIDS Conference

 July 15, 2024
IAVI is looking forward to a busy and exciting week at the International AIDS conference, taking place July 22-26 in Munich, Germany. IAVI leaders will participate in a range of sessions, including IAVI-organized satellite sessions, posters, a pre-conference session, and, of course, many side meetings. Some highlights of IAVI’s upcoming participation include: We welcome you […]
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Features

Unitaid, IAVI, Medicines Patent Pool, and Wellcome publish novel approaches to enable equitable access to monoclonal antibodies in low- and middle-income countries

 July 05, 2024
Unitaid, IAVI, the Medicines Patent Pool and Wellcome proudly announced the publication of “Novel Approaches to Enable Equitable Access to Monoclonal Antibodies in Low- and Middle-Income Countries” in PLoS Global Public Health. A collaborative effort across IAVI’s lead author Shelly Malhotra, vice president for global access and external affairs, and co-authors from partner organizations, the article draws on a multistakeholder consultation, to address critical barriers and proposes innovative strategies to enable equitable access to monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) in low- and middle-in
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World Zoonoses Day July 6 Feature
Features

World Zoonoses Day 2024: IAVI celebrates progress in Lassa vaccine development

 July 05, 2024
World Zoonoses Day is commemorated on July 6 and reminds us of the important role human-animal interactions play in global health. It also commemorates the first rabies vaccine given on July 6, 1885. “Zoonoses” is the collective term for zoonotic, or animal-borne diseases. Some examples include the emerging infectious diseases Ebola and Marburg, which are […]
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Press Release

Advancing toward a preventative HIV vaccine

 July 02, 2024
LA JOLLA, CA and NEW YORK, NY — July 2, 2024 — A major challenge in developing a vaccine for HIV is that the virus mutates fast — very fast. Although a person initially becomes infected with one or a few HIV strains, the virus replicates and mutates quickly, resulting in a “swarm” of viral […]
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Mts Elana Van Brakel Li Fb (1)
Features

Meet The Scientist podcast: An interview with Dr. Elana Van Brakel, Medical Director at IAVI, on IAVI’s TB vaccine program

 June 26, 2024
In the latest episode of Meet the Scientist, IAVI’s podcast series, we sat down with Elana Van Brakel, medical director at IAVI in Cape Town, South Africa, to discuss her work at IAVI in support of our TB vaccine program. In this episode, we explore IAVI’s diverse engagement in the development of the MTBVAC TB vaccine candidate and learn about how Elana and IAVI’s TB team are preparing for the Phase 2b clinical trial of MTBVAC in adolescents and adults in sub-Saharan Africa. Tune in to learn more about Elana’s work and IAVI’s TB vaccine program. See below for a full transcription o
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