NOVA SCOTIA, CANADA / RankWire.AI / – Moderna has initiated a preliminary human trial for a vaccine targeting Bundibugyo ebolavirus as the outbreak in the Democratic Republic of the Congo continues to expand. The first dose of the mRNA-1469 vaccine was administered on August 3 in Truro, Nova Scotia. This trial signifies the vaccine’s initial application in human subjects. The World Health Organization has designated the situation as an international public health emergency due to the outbreak.
Approximately 80 healthy adults will participate in this Phase 1 trial across three locations in Canada. The research team will evaluate the vaccine’s safety profile, its tolerability, and its capacity to provoke an immune response. The primary goal is not to demonstrate the vaccine’s effectiveness in preventing Ebola infection but to assess safety and appropriate dosage levels before progressing to larger-scale studies. The Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations has pledged up to $50 million to fund testing, manufacturing, and additional research doses.
WHO reported a total of 3,605 confirmed cases and 1,587 fatalities in DR Congo through July 30. By that date, at least 651 individuals had recovered. Updated data released on August 4 indicate that cases have surpassed 3,800 with over 1,700 deaths. Health officials identified infections in 49 health zones across five provinces, with Ituri remaining the epicenter of the outbreak, accounting for approximately 88% of confirmed cases.
Outbreak underscores the absence of an approved vaccine
The ongoing epidemic involves Bundibugyo ebolavirus, one of the multiple species within the Ebola virus family. Currently, there is no approved vaccine or targeted treatment for this particular species. Existing licensed Ebola vaccines mainly address Zaire ebolavirus, which causes a different clinical form. Historically, Bundibugyo ebolavirus has triggered outbreaks in Uganda and DR Congo, with the country experiencing 17 Ebola incidents since the virus’s initial discovery in 1976.
Transmission occurs through direct contact with infected blood, bodily fluids, organs, or contaminated materials. Public health teams are actively expanding testing protocols, contact tracing efforts, treatment options, and infection control measures across the affected regions. By July 30, officials had listed 17,863 contacts for monitoring. WHO also documented 151 confirmed infections among healthcare workers, including 44 deaths. Ongoing armed conflict, displacement of populations, and attacks on health facilities have further complicated efforts to access and treat patients in various communities.
Additional vaccine candidates make progress
Following Moderna’s initiative, the University of Oxford in Britain launched its own Phase 1 study of a vaccine candidate on July 24. The Oxford vaccine employs the ChAdOx1 platform, whereas Moderna’s vaccine uses messenger RNA technology. The Serum Institute of India has produced approximately 620,000 doses of the Oxford vaccine and has supplied 4,000 investigational doses for clinical research purposes. This effort is part of a broader push to develop effective vaccines against Bundibugyo ebolavirus.
Supported by CEPI, both programs aim to contribute to the global effort to combat this strain. The organization also supports two additional candidates based on recombinant vesicular stomatitis virus technology, one developed by IAVI with manufacturing led by Hilleman Laboratories, and another by Public Health Vaccines. None of these candidates currently have approval for public use. The WHO emphasizes that surveillance, laboratory diagnosis, patient care, safe burial practices, and community engagement remain vital components of the response to this outbreak.