nOPV2
To better address the evolving risk of type 2 circulating vaccine-derived poliovirus (cVDPV2), GPEI partners are working to deploy an additional innovative tool – novel oral polio vaccine type 2 (nOPV2). The vaccine is a modified version of the existing type 2 monovalent OPV (mOPV2), which clinical trials have shown provides comparable protection against poliovirus while being more genetically stable and less likely to revert into a form which can cause paralysis in low immunity settings. The vaccine’s increased genetic stability means there is also a reduced risk of seeding new cVDPV2 outbreaks, compared to mOPV2.
nOPV2 is being considered for deployment under WHO’s Emergency Use Listing procedure (EUL) to enable rapid field availability. Even after meeting rigorous EUL criteria for safety and immunogenicity, nOPV2’s performance in the field will continue to be monitored in line with EUL standards and data collection will continue, with the ultimate goal of WHO prequalification.
General information
- GPEI nOPV2-cVDPV2 fact sheet – English | French |
- nOPV2 Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
- Strategy for the control of cVDPV2 2020-2021
Resources for Countries
WHO Executive Board decision urging Member States to expedite processes for authorizing the importation and use of nOPV2 on the basis of its emergency use listing – January 2020
The WHO Executive Board serves to implement the decisions and policies of the World Health Assembly, and to advise and facilitate its work. Meeting in Geneva, the Board noted both the evolving public health emergency associated with circulating vaccine derived poliovirus type 2 (cVDPV2) and the new GPEI strategy to control these outbreaks, and made a decision which urges Member States to accelerate processes to enable importation and use of nOPV2, on the basis of its emergency use listing.
WHO Emergency Use Listing (EUL) procedure Version 9 January 2020
nOPV2 is being considered for deployment under WHO’s Emergency Use Listing procedure (EUL) to enable rapid field availability. The EUL procedure involves careful and rigorous analysis of existing data to enable early, targeted use of pre-licensure vaccines, therapeutics and in-vitro diagnostic products for a Public Health Emergency of International Concern – which polio has been since 2014. The EUL procedure document defines the steps that WHO follows to establish eligibility of unlicensed products for assessment under this procedure, the essential information required, and the process used to determine eligibility for the time-limited listing of products.
Latest SAGE conclusions and recommendations – April 2020
The Strategic Advisory Group of Experts (SAGE) on Immunization is an independent group of scientific experts which advises WHO on vaccines and immunization. At its April 2020 virtual meeting, SAGE endorsed in principle the criteria for initial nOPV2 use under emergency use listing (EUL) for cVDPV2 outbreak response.
Framework for Initial Use of nOPV2 – April 1, 2020
Endorsed by the SAGE, this framework provides guidance for the initial use of nOPV2 under the EUL.
Roadmap for assessment of nOPV2 under the EUL
This document outlines the steps, activities and timelines for WHO’s assessment of nOPV2 under the EUL, and post-recommendation activities
Clinical summary for novel oral polio vaccine type 2 (nOPV2)
This document provides a summary of nOPV2 clinical development data.
Publications
- Engineering the Live-Attenuated Polio Vaccine to Prevent Reversion to Virulence (2020 Cell Host & Microbe publication)
- Development of a new oral poliovirus vaccine for the eradication end game using codon deoptimization (2020 npj Vaccines publication)
- The safety and immunogenicity of two novel live attenuated monovalent (serotype 2) oral poliovirus vaccines in healthy adults: a double-blind, single-centre phase 1 study (2019 Lancet publication)
- Polio endgame options: will we have the vaccines needed? (2019 Lancet commentary)
- Poliopolis (2019 correspondence in The Lancet)
- Poliopolis: pushing boundaries of scientific innovations for disease eradication (2019 Future Microbiology publication)
- Polio vaccination: past, present, and future (2015 Future Microbiology publication)
Coordination and Management
The GPEI has established an nOPV2 Working Group to manage and coordinate the rapid and effective rollout of nOPV2. The group includes representatives from each of the GPEI partner organizations and focuses on research, regulatory, supply, communications, policy, and implementation readiness activities.
Learn more about the nOPV2 Working Group.
