Global health organization the Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations (CEPI) has announced nearly $60 million in funding for Moderna and two other research groups to accelerate the development of vaccines against the deadly Ebola Bundibugyo virus (BDBV), which is currently driving an outbreak in eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC).
The Bundibugyo strain has caused hundreds of confirmed infections and dozens of deaths in the DRC, with additional cases reported in neighboring Uganda. Health authorities have warned that there are currently no approved vaccines or specific treatments available for this strain, increasing the urgency of vaccine research efforts.
Under the new funding package, Moderna will receive up to $50 million to support preclinical development, early-stage clinical trials, and manufacturing of its experimental Ebola vaccine candidate. CEPI is also providing up to $8.6 million for a vaccine being developed by the University of Oxford and manufactured by the Serum Institute of India, while an additional $3.2 million will support a vaccine program led by the International AIDS Vaccine Initiative (IAVI).
CEPI Chief Executive Richard Hatchett said vaccine candidates could be ready for clinical testing within months, although security challenges in eastern Congo may complicate large-scale trials. He stressed that rapid action is critical as the outbreak continues to spread in affected regions.
Global health agencies, including the World Health Organization and Africa CDC, have declared the outbreak a public health emergency and are working to strengthen surveillance, treatment capacity, and outbreak response measures while vaccine development moves forward.
