NOVA SCOTIA, CANADA / RankWire.AI / – Moderna has launched a Phase 1 clinical trial for an experimental vaccine targeting Bundibugyo ebolavirus in Canada. The trial began with the first participant receiving the mRNA-1469 vaccine on August 3 at a location in Truro, Nova Scotia. This development occurs as the virus continues to spread across multiple provinces in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. The World Health Organization has designated the outbreak as a public health emergency of international concern.
The trial is set to take place across three sites in Canada and aims to recruit approximately 80 healthy adult volunteers. Researchers will evaluate the vaccine’s safety, tolerability, and its capacity to elicit an immune response. It is important to note that this Phase 1 study will not determine the vaccine’s effectiveness in preventing infection, as the primary focus is on early safety data. The Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations has pledged up to $50 million to fund preclinical research, the trial itself, and the production of additional doses for further testing.
WHO reported 3,605 confirmed cases and 1,587 fatalities in DR Congo as of July 30, with at least 651 recoveries. As of August 4, CEPI updated these figures, indicating infections surpassed 3,800 and deaths exceeded 1,700. The cases spanned 49 health zones across the provinces of Ituri, North Kivu, South Kivu, Haut-Uélé, and Tshopo. Of these, 33 zones reported recent infections, with Ituri accounting for 88% of all confirmed cases.
Vaccine Gap Highlighted by Outbreak
On May 17, WHO declared the outbreak an international public health emergency. This marks the 17th Ebola outbreak in DR Congo since scientists identified the virus in 1976. The current epidemic involves the Bundibugyo species, previously associated with outbreaks in Uganda and DR Congo. Currently, no approved vaccine or targeted treatment exists for this specific strain. The licensed Ebola vaccines available are designed to protect against Zaire ebolavirus, a different virus within the same family.
Bundibugyo ebolavirus transmits through direct contact with infected blood, body fluids, organs, or contaminated materials. In response, public health teams have ramped up laboratory testing, contact tracing, clinical care, and infection prevention efforts. As of July 30, officials had identified 17,863 contacts for monitoring. WHO also reported 151 confirmed infections among healthcare workers, including 44 fatalities. Ongoing conflict, displacement, and attacks on health facilities have hindered access and response activities in several affected regions.
Multiple Vaccines Enter Testing Phase
Following Moderna’s trial, the University of Oxford has also begun testing a Phase 1 vaccine candidate. Their first volunteer was vaccinated on July 24 using the ChAdOx1 platform. The Serum Institute of India produced the vaccine, stockpiling about 620,000 doses and supplying 4,000 investigational doses for clinical trials. Both programs are supported by CEPI as part of its efforts to develop a vaccine against Bundibugyo ebolavirus.
Moderna’s mRNA-1469 vaccine leverages the same technological platform as their COVID-19 vaccine. Additionally, CEPI is backing two other candidates based on recombinant vesicular stomatitis virus technology. One was developed by IAVI, with manufacturing led by Hilleman Laboratories, and the other by Public Health Vaccines. None of these candidates has received regulatory approval for widespread use. According to WHO, effective management of the outbreak relies on surveillance, rapid diagnosis, patient care, safe burials, and community engagement.