Table 5.
Representative medical countermeasures for treating Lassa fever
| Classification | Name | Platform/Strategy | Stage | Efficacy/Benefic | References |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Vaccines | LASSARAB | Expressing LASV-G using attenuated RABV vector | Preclinical | Protect guinea pigs and mice; Fc mediated protection | 282,283 |
| Live attenuated | Replacing IGR of LASV S segment or breaking codon bias | Preclinical | Protects guinea pigs | 284,285 | |
| ML29 | Recombinant virus of LASV and Moopeia virus | Clinical | Sterile immunity and protects guinea pigs and NHPs | 286–291 | |
| VSVΔG/LASV GPC | Expressing LASV-GPC based on VSV | Preclinical | Robust and long-lasting immune response and 100% protection in NHPs | 252,292,293 | |
| YF17D/LASV-GPC | Expressing LASV GPC based on flavivirus YF17D | Preclinical | Protect guinea pigs but not NHPs | 294 | |
| MeV-NPmut/GPC and MeV-Z/GPC | Expressing LASV GPC + NP or GPC + Z based on MeV vector | Clinical | Protect NHPs from lethal challenge and nearly sterile immunity | 296–298 | |
| Vaccinia virus-NP /GPC | Expressing LASV GPC(GP1/GP2) or NP based on Vaccinia virus vector | Preclinical | Distinct results in rodents and NHPs | 299–301 | |
| RNA replicon | RNA replicon expressing GPC or NP of LASV | Preclinical | Protect guinea pigs | 302,303 | |
| INO-4500 | DNA vaccine encoding LASV GPC | Clinical | Protect guinea pigs and NHPs | 305,306 | |
| Antibodies | Arevirumab-3 | Human antibody cocktail contains 8.9F, 12.1F, and 37.2D | Clinical | Protective in guinea pigs and NHPs | 53,258,320 |
| Small molecular drugs | Fapiravir | RdRp inhibitor | Preclinical | Improved situation in mice | 317 |
| Ribavirin | Broad spectrum antiviral drug | Preclinical | Recommended to use in the early stage of the disease | 313–315 |
LASV Lassa virus, RABV rabies virus, IGR gene interval, GPC glycoprotein precursor, VSV vesicular stomatitis virus, N nucleocapsid protein, Z zinc- binding protein, RdRp RNA dependent RNA polymerase, NHPs nonhuman primates