PLoS Neglected Tropical Diseases
http://www.plosntds.org/
(Accessed 31 January 2015)

The Onchocerciasis Vaccine for Africa—TOVA—Initiative
Peter J. Hotez, Maria Elena Bottazzi, Bin Zhan, Benjamin L. Makepeace, Thomas R. Klei, David Abraham, David W. Taylor, Sara Lustigman
Editorial | published 29 Jan 2015 | PLOS Neglected Tropical Diseases 10.1371/journal.pntd.0003422
New supportive health intervention technologies, including a vaccine, may be required in order to achieve onchocerciasis (river blindness) elimination targets. A new transatlantic partnership has been established to develop and test an onchocerciasis vaccine for Africa…

…OVA Initiative is now establishing a roadmap for developing a vaccine to meet one of the two described TPPs, with plans to take at least one candidate forward to phase two trials (proof-of-concept trial for efficacy) by 2020. Among the key activities envisioned for TOVA Initiative is a program of confirmatory preclinical testing, optimization, and down-selection in the O. ochengi–cow model under conditions of natural exposure, together with scale-up process development, pilot manufacture, toxicology testing, regulatory filing, and phase one clinical testing. Indeed, TOVA Initiative is poised to lead on the development of this important new tool to aid in the elimination of onchocerciasis.

An onchocerciasis vaccine for Africa would build on past investments in OCP and APOC and support future investments planned under PENDA to help achieve elimination of onchocerciasis [19]. TOVA has begun to explore innovative financing mechanisms from major foundations, governments in North America, Europe, and elsewhere, as well as some of the major development banks committed to poverty reduction in sub-Saharan Africa. We strongly encourage the global public health community to embrace the prospect of an onchocerciasis vaccine and to incorporate plans for a vaccine’s development into future public policy and strategic plan considerations.