Prime Highlights
- CEPI committed about $60 million for Ebola vaccine development.
- Moderna will receive up to $50 million.
Key Facts
- No approved Ebola Bundibugyo vaccine currently exists.
- Congo and Uganda are reporting confirmed cases.
Background
Global health organisation CEPI has committed around $60 million to support the development of vaccines against Ebola Bundibugyo, a deadly virus currently affecting parts of the Democratic Republic of Congo and Uganda. The funding will support Moderna and two other vaccine developers as efforts intensify to control the outbreak.
The largest share of the funding, up to $50 million, will go to Moderna to support preclinical studies, early-stage clinical trials, manufacturing and potential late-stage development of its Ebola Bundibugyo vaccine candidate. There are currently no approved vaccines or treatments for this strain of Ebola.
CEPI also pledged up to $8.6 million for a vaccine developed by the University of Oxford and manufactured by the Serum Institute of India. An additional $3.2 million will support a vaccine candidate being developed by the International AIDS Vaccine Initiative (IAVI).
Health officials believe vaccine candidates could be ready for initial trials within a few months, although challenges remain due to the complex security situation in eastern Congo. Researchers will first assess vaccine safety and effectiveness before moving to larger studies in Africa.
The outbreak has resulted in hundreds of confirmed and suspected cases in Congo, along with additional cases in Uganda. Global health agencies have classified the situation as a public health emergency.
Experts said the funding is an important step toward accelerating vaccine development and improving preparedness for future outbreaks. They also stressed that ensuring access to vaccines after development will be critical, particularly in regions most affected by the disease.
The initiative adds to broader international support efforts, with global organisations recently announcing additional funding to strengthen Ebola response and outbreak control measures.
