Epstein-Barr virus Vaccine Candidate Launches Phase 1 Study in Maryland

The U.S. National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases has initiated a Phase 1 clinical trial for a new ferritin-based nanoparticle vaccine aimed at preventing infection by Epstein-Barr virus (EBV).

Since May 2025, this study has been conducted at the National Institutes of Health Clinical Center in Maryland, and began to evaluate the safety of a 3-dose vaccination regimen of an adjuvanted EBV gH/gL/gp42-ferritin nanoparticle vaccine with or without gp350-ferritin, with 750 participants. 

This represents a significant milestone in the development of an EBV vaccine, as there is currently no FDA-approved vaccine available for this virus.

The U.S. CDC states most people will get infected with EBV in their lifetime, especially in childhood, and will not have symptoms. EBV is known to cause infectious mononucleosis and has been associated with several autoimmune diseases and cancers.

According to a NIH media release in 2022, "A vaccine that could prevent or reduce the severity of infection with the Epstein-Barr virus could reduce the incidence of infectious mononucleosis and might also reduce the incidence of EBV-associated malignancies and autoimmune diseases," said NIAID Director Anthony S. Fauci, M.D.

According to ClinicalTrials.gov, this study's expected completion date is October 2027.