Bay Area company resurrects its Ebola vaccine

SOUTH SAN FRANCISCO, Calif. (KGO) -- As Ebola continues to spread, researchers at a South San Francisco company are speeding up efforts to develop a new vaccine.

Inside the Vaxart laboratory, a handful of researchers are hard at work in in a race against time. They hope to create a vaccine to help prevent the spread of Ebola. It would not be delivered via a needle, but instead would be taken in tablet form.

"We have no reason to believe our tablet would be inferior to the injectable. Ultimately, if the vaccine works, it would be available to everyone," said Wouter Latour, CEO of Vaxart.

Democratic Congresswoman Jackie Speier of San Mateo toured the facility Wednesday. She says the company could be key to preventing any future ebola outbreaks.

"What goes on in Africa is as important to us, as what goes on across the street," said Rep. Speier, D-Calif.

The tablet can be kept at room temperature for more than a year. A big advantage over vaccines that need to be kept cool, especially in countries with limited infrastructure.

Vaxart actually began its Ebola vaccine program two years ago, but shelved the project due to a lack of funds, before reviving it this summer.

"We've rushed to the opportunity here to make our own resources available to move this program forward, we don't have government funding at the moment," said Latour.

As they wait for funding to come in from various sources, there's no timetable yet as to when the vaccine would readily be available. Many people will be keeping a very close eye.

"It's important for us in Congress to understand what the hurdles are, and where we should be putting our resources," said Speier.

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