Four monkeys survived the Ebola virus after being injected with Immunovaccine’s experimental vaccine, the Canadian company said yesterday, an announcement that sent its stock soaring.

The Halifax, Nova Scotia-based company said four monkeys received its vaccine and later survived a dose of Ebola virus that normally would have been lethal. Two other animals that did not receive the vaccine died within a week.

The tests were performed by the US National Institutes of Health, based in Maryland.

Immunovaccine, which had a market capitalisation of about C$77 million (€53 million) as of Friday, is one of a handful of companies testing potential vaccines for Ebola, which has killed almost 1,500 people in west Africa.

Other companies testing Ebola vaccines include US-based NewLink Genetics, which holds the licence for a vaccine devel- oped by the Canadian gov- ernment, and privately he- ld Profectus BioSciences.

Immunovaccine said it was exploring options to develop the vaccine with various organisations.

Its stock on the TSX Venture Exchange jumped as much as 44 per cent, and was up 26.8 per cent at C$1.23 at midday, after a trading halt. – (Reuters)