CEPI Funds New Vaccines Against Deadly Ebola Strain

ISLAMABAD: (Web Desk) – Global vaccine alliance Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations has announced nearly $60 million in funding to accelerate the development of vaccines against the deadly Ebola Bundibugyo virus (BDBV), as health authorities work to contain a growing outbreak in Central Africa.

The organization, which played a key role in supporting vaccine development during the COVID-19 pandemic, said the funding will be distributed among three vaccine programs led by Moderna, University of Oxford, and International AIDS Vaccine Initiative.

CEPI Chief Executive Richard Hatchett said vaccine candidates could be ready for clinical testing within a few months, offering hope in the fight against a virus for which no approved vaccine or treatment currently exists.

The outbreak has affected eastern regions of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, where health officials have reported 282 confirmed cases and 42 deaths. More than 1,100 additional suspected cases are under investigation. Neighboring Uganda has also confirmed nine infections, including one fatality.

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Global health agencies have classified the outbreak as a public health emergency, prompting increased international efforts to develop and deploy effective countermeasures.

Under the initiative, CEPI will provide up to $50 million to support the preclinical and early clinical development of Moderna’s experimental Ebola Bundibugyo vaccine. The funding will also cover manufacturing activities and support progression into larger clinical trials if initial results prove successful.

Moderna Chief Executive Stéphane Bancel said previous research had shown promising results in preclinical studies. He explained that researchers are working toward a vaccine capable of preventing disease while simplifying administration, potentially through a single-dose regimen.

According to Bancel, upcoming Phase 1 trials will help determine the most effective dosing strategy before larger studies are launched in Africa.

CEPI has also committed up to $8.6 million for a vaccine candidate developed by the University of Oxford and manufactured by Serum Institute of India. In addition, an initial $3.2 million has been allocated to support vaccine development by IAVI.

IAVI’s vaccine candidate is based on the same technology used in Ervebo, the approved vaccine for the Ebola Zaire strain. Early animal studies have demonstrated promising survival outcomes.

IAVI President and CEO Mark Feinberg noted that responsibilities for organizing future clinical trials remain under discussion. He stressed that significant financial resources will still be required before vaccine candidates can advance through the development pipeline.

Meanwhile, Oxford’s vaccine candidate, known as ChAdOx1 Bundibugyo, uses the same platform technology that powered the Oxford-AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine. CEPI officials highlighted its potential for rapid deployment, citing previous outbreak responses where trial-ready doses were produced within weeks.

Beyond vaccine development, health experts emphasize that ensuring equitable access to doses will be a critical challenge. Richard Hatchett noted that hundreds of thousands of vaccine doses were required to contain previous Ebola outbreaks in Congo, underscoring the scale of preparation needed if new vaccines prove successful.

Additional support for outbreak response efforts is also emerging. The vaccine alliance Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance has pledged up to $50 million, while the Pandemic Fund announced grants totaling more than $220 million to strengthen response measures.