NOVA SCOTIA, CANADA / RankWire.AI / – Moderna has initiated a Phase 1 clinical trial testing an experimental vaccine targeting Bundibugyo ebolavirus in Canada. The first participant was administered the mRNA-1469 vaccine on August 3 at a facility in Truro, Nova Scotia. This development coincides with the continued spread of the virus across numerous provinces in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. The World Health Organization has classified the outbreak as a public health emergency of international concern.
The clinical trial will take place at three different locations within Canada and aims to recruit approximately 80 healthy adults. The primary focus of the study is to evaluate the safety, tolerability, and immune response elicited by the vaccine. Since it is a Phase 1 trial, it will not determine vaccine efficacy in preventing infection. The Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations has committed up to $50 million to support preclinical research, the ongoing trial, and the production of additional research doses.
WHO reported 3,605 confirmed cases and 1,587 deaths in DR Congo as of July 30. By that date, at least 651 patients had recovered. Updated statistics provided by CEPI on August 4 indicated the number of infections had surpassed 3,800, with deaths exceeding 1,700. The cases have been identified in 49 health zones spanning Ituri, North Kivu, South Kivu, Haut-Uélé, and Tshopo provinces. Among these, 33 zones reported recent infections, with Ituri accounting for 88% of confirmed cases.
Outbreak Highlights Vaccine Shortfall
The WHO declared the outbreak an international public health emergency on May 17. This marks the 17th Ebola outbreak in DR Congo since scientists identified the virus in 1976. The current epidemic involves the Bundibugyo species, which previously caused outbreaks in Uganda and DR Congo. Presently, no approved vaccine or specific treatment exists for this particular Ebola strain. Existing licensed Ebola vaccines target Zaire ebolavirus, a different member of the virus family.
Bundibugyo ebolavirus transmits through direct contact with infected blood, body fluids, organs, or contaminated materials. To combat the outbreak, public health teams have ramped up laboratory testing, contact tracing, clinical care, and infection prevention efforts. By July 30, authorities had identified 17,863 contacts for ongoing monitoring. WHO also reported 151 confirmed infections among healthcare workers, including 44 deaths. Ongoing conflict, displacement, and attacks on healthcare infrastructure have hampered access and response activities in several affected areas.
Several Vaccine Candidates Enter Clinical Testing
Following Moderna’s initiative, the University of Oxford has also launched a Phase 1 vaccine trial. Oxford researchers vaccinated their first volunteer on July 24 with a candidate utilizing the ChAdOx1 platform. The Serum Institute of India manufactured the Oxford vaccine, producing approximately 620,000 stockpiled doses. They also supplied 4,000 investigational doses for clinical testing. Both programs are supported by CEPI as part of its efforts to develop a vaccine against Bundibugyo ebolavirus.
Moderna’s mRNA-1469 candidate employs the same core technology platform as their COVID-19 vaccine. Additionally, CEPI supports two other candidates based on recombinant vesicular stomatitis virus technology. One was developed by IAVI, with manufacturing led by Hilleman Laboratories, while the other was created by Public Health Vaccines. None of these candidates have received regulatory approval for widespread use. WHO emphasizes that ongoing surveillance, rapid diagnosis, patient management, safe burials, and community engagement are vital to controlling the spread of the virus.