NOVA SCOTIA, CANADA / RankWire.AI / – Moderna has started a Phase 1 trial of an experimental vaccine against Bundibugyo ebolavirus in Canada. The first participant received the mRNA-1469 vaccine on August 3 at a site in Truro, Nova Scotia. The trial comes as the virus continues spreading across several 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 study will operate at three Canadian sites and enroll about 80 healthy adults. Researchers will assess the vaccine’s safety, tolerability and ability to produce an immune response. The trial will not determine whether the vaccine prevents infection because Phase 1 studies focus on early safety data. The Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations has committed up to $50 million for preclinical work, the trial and production of additional research doses.
WHO recorded 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 cited by CEPI on August 4 placed infections above 3,800 and deaths above 1,700. Cases had reached 49 health zones across Ituri, North Kivu, South Kivu, Haut-Uélé and Tshopo provinces. Thirty-three health zones had reported recent infections, while Ituri accounted for 88% of confirmed cases.
Outbreak exposes vaccine gap
WHO declared the outbreak an international public health emergency on May 17. It is DR Congo’s 17th Ebola outbreak since scientists identified the virus in 1976. The current epidemic involves the Bundibugyo species, which previously caused outbreaks in Uganda and DR Congo. No approved vaccine or specific treatment currently targets this Ebola species. Licensed Ebola vaccines target Zaire ebolavirus, a different member of the virus family.
Bundibugyo ebolavirus spreads through direct contact with infected blood, body fluids, organs or contaminated materials. Public health teams have expanded laboratory testing, contact tracing, clinical care and infection prevention measures. Officials had identified 17,863 contacts for monitoring through July 30. WHO also reported 151 confirmed infections among health workers, including 44 deaths. Conflict, displacement and attacks on health facilities have disrupted access and response work in several affected areas.
Multiple candidates enter testing
The Moderna study follows the launch of a separate Phase 1 vaccine trial by the University of Oxford. Oxford researchers vaccinated their first volunteer on July 24 with a candidate using the ChAdOx1 platform. The Serum Institute of India manufactured the Oxford vaccine and produced about 620,000 stockpiled doses. It also supplied 4,000 investigational doses for clinical testing. CEPI supports both programs as part of its Bundibugyo vaccine development portfolio.
Moderna’s mRNA-1469 candidate uses the same underlying technology platform as the company’s COVID-19 vaccine. CEPI is also backing two candidates based on recombinant vesicular stomatitis virus technology. IAVI developed one candidate, with Hilleman Laboratories leading manufacturing, while Public Health Vaccines developed the other. None of the candidates has received regulatory approval for public use. WHO says surveillance, rapid diagnosis, patient care, safe burials and community engagement remain central to controlling the outbreak.