OSLO, NORWAY / EuroWire / — International health partners have accelerated work on investigational vaccines against Ebola’s Bundibugyo strain, as an outbreak in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Uganda continues without a licensed vaccine or specific approved treatment for the virus. The Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations (CEPI) said it will support three vaccine candidates under development by IAVI, Moderna and the University of Oxford, with the Oxford candidate to be manufactured by the Serum Institute of India.
The outbreak, caused by Bundibugyo virus disease, has spread across eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo and into Uganda. As of June 1, the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control reported 282 confirmed cases in Democratic Republic of the Congo, including 42 confirmed deaths, and 220 suspected cases under investigation. Ituri was the most affected province, with confirmed cases also reported in North Kivu and South Kivu.
Uganda had reported nine confirmed cases, including one death, with several cases linked to travel from Democratic Republic of the Congo. The World Health Organization has said the outbreak involves a strain distinct from the Zaire ebolavirus strain targeted by the licensed Ervebo vaccine. WHO experts have advised that vaccine and treatment candidates for Bundibugyo virus disease should be tested only through carefully designed clinical trials.
Vaccine candidates move toward trials
CEPI said its funding will advance three investigational vaccines toward clinical trials as quickly as possible. The portfolio includes an rVSV based candidate from IAVI, an mRNA candidate from Moderna and a ChAdOx1 candidate from the University of Oxford, to be manufactured by the Serum Institute of India. CEPI said there are no licensed vaccines available for Bundibugyo virus and no Bundibugyo vaccines already in clinical development.
WHO convened experts who identified IAVI’s single dose rVSV Bundibugyo vaccine as the most promising candidate reviewed, while noting that development could require seven to nine months before assessment in a preventive efficacy trial. Experts also said the Oxford and Serum Institute of India ChAdOx1 Bundibugyo candidate could become available within two to three months for efficacy assessment, subject to additional animal data supporting further prioritization.
Financing targets access and response
Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance said it would make up to $50 million available through its First Response Fund for Bundibugyo ebolavirus vaccines and outbreak response. The allocation includes up to $40 million to support accelerated access to investigational doses and future approved vaccines, along with $10 million for outbreak response and protection of routine immunization services in affected countries.
Health authorities in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Uganda are working with WHO, Africa CDC, CEPI, Gavi, ANRS Emerging Infectious Diseases and other partners on response measures that include surveillance, laboratory confirmation, rapid response teams, infection prevention, treatment centers, contact tracing and community engagement. WHO has said transmission risk is linked to health care settings and cross border movement, while control depends on rapid case identification, isolation and care, safe burials and follow up of contacts.