NOVA SCOTIA, CANADA / RankWire.AI / – Moderna has launched an early-stage trial of a vaccine for Bundibugyo ebolavirus as an outbreak grows in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. A volunteer received the first dose of the mRNA-1469 vaccine on August 3 in Truro, Nova Scotia. The study marks the vaccine’s first use in humans. The World Health Organization has declared the Congolese outbreak an international public health emergency.
The Phase 1 study will enroll about 80 healthy adults at three locations in Canada. Researchers will examine the vaccine’s safety, tolerability and ability to trigger an immune response. The trial does not aim to prove that the vaccine prevents Ebola infection. Early-stage studies focus on safety and dosage before larger trials begin. The Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations has committed up to $50 million to support testing, manufacturing work and additional research doses.
WHO counted 3,605 confirmed cases and 1,587 deaths in DR Congo through July 30. At least 651 patients had recovered by that date. Updated figures reported on August 4 put cases above 3,800 and deaths above 1,700. Health authorities had detected infections in 49 health zones across five provinces. Ituri remained the center of the outbreak and accounted for about 88% of confirmed infections.
Outbreak highlights lack of approved vaccine
The current epidemic involves Bundibugyo ebolavirus, one of several species within the Ebola virus family. No approved vaccine or specific treatment targets this species. Existing licensed Ebola vaccines focus on Zaire ebolavirus, which causes a different form of the disease. Bundibugyo ebolavirus caused earlier outbreaks in Uganda and DR Congo. The country has recorded 17 Ebola outbreaks since researchers identified the virus in 1976.
The virus spreads through direct contact with infected blood, body fluids, organs or contaminated materials. Public health teams have expanded testing, contact tracing, treatment and infection control across affected areas. Officials had listed 17,863 contacts for monitoring by July 30. WHO also reported 151 confirmed infections among health workers, including 44 deaths. Armed conflict, population displacement and attacks on health facilities have complicated access to patients in several communities.
Other vaccine candidates advance
The Moderna trial follows another Phase 1 study launched by the University of Oxford in Britain. Researchers gave the first dose of the Oxford candidate on July 24. That vaccine uses the ChAdOx1 platform, while Moderna’s candidate uses messenger RNA technology. The Serum Institute of India produced the Oxford vaccine and created a stockpile of about 620,000 doses. It also supplied 4,000 investigational doses for clinical research.
CEPI supports both programs as part of a wider effort to develop Bundibugyo Ebola vaccines. The organization also backs two candidates based on recombinant vesicular stomatitis virus technology. IAVI developed one candidate with manufacturing led by Hilleman Laboratories. Public Health Vaccines developed the other. None has approval for public use. WHO says surveillance, laboratory diagnosis, patient care, safe burials and community engagement remain essential parts of the outbreak response.