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

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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Participants of the HVAD Vaccine Research Literacy Workshop gather for a group photo on May 21, 2024, in Nairobi, Kenya.
Features

Advocates push for local manufacturing to achieve health equity in Africa 

 June 24, 2024
Often, Africa is seen through the lens of a polycrisis where health is concerned. Yet, despite a heavy disease burden compounded by climate change effects and other socioeconomic challenges, Africa’s Agenda 2063 for prosperity emphasizes health as a key factor for success. To achieve Africa’s vision of leadership in research and development (R&D), pandemic preparedness, […]
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IAVI Report

Building better B cells: An interview with James Voss

 June 18, 2024
The immune system can make antibodies against HIV. The problem is that most of them aren’t that effective at eliminating or neutralizing the virus. This is largely because HIV evolves so quickly that by the time the antibodies are around, the virus has already mutated enough to avoid neutralization. HIV is always a step ahead. […]
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Features

Don’t miss out on the 7th Global Forum on TB Vaccines this October

 June 18, 2024
We’re less than four months away from the 7th Global Forum on TB Vaccines, taking place for the first time in the Americas in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, from October 8-10, 2024. This Forum, expected to be the largest edition to date, aims to bring more than 400 stakeholders from over 35 countries and all […]
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Features

Research from the IAVI Neutralizing Antibody Center and partners provides additional evidence for germline-targeting strategy of HIV vaccine development

 May 31, 2024
New research published May 30 in two papers in Nature Immunology demonstrates that vaccination can induce broadly neutralizing antibody (bnAb) precursors to HIV glycoprotein 41 (gp41), an important potential vaccination target, in mice and non-human primates. Results from both studies, which focus on membrane-proximal external region (MPER) antibodies, provide additional evidence supporting and guiding the […]
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Body bent towards the skin surface, this image depicts a lateral view of a feeding female Anopheles merus mosquito. This specimen had landed on a human hand, and was in the process of obtaining its blood meal through its sharp, needle-like labrum, which it had inserted into its human host. Note the reddish color of the labrum, as it was filled with blood, and the retracted labium, which ensheaths the sharp labrum when it’s not in use. Also note the red-colored abdomen that had become enlarged due to its blood meal contents. A member of the A. gambiae species complex, A. merus is a known vector for the parasitic disease malaria.
IAVI Report

Will monoclonal antibodies be a new weapon in the fight against malaria?

 May 20, 2024
Monoclonal antibodies have revolutionized the treatment of cancer, autoimmune diseases, and inflammation in wealthier countries. But their role in treating and preventing infectious diseases was limited. Until COVID-19. The emergence of SARS-CoV-2 heralded the first time that mAbs were mass produced — millions of doses were manufactured and administered in the U.S. alone — to […]
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