NOVA SCOTIA, CANADA / RankWire.AI / – Moderna has commenced a Phase 1 clinical trial for an experimental vaccine targeting Bundibugyo ebolavirus in Canada. The initial participant received the mRNA-1469 vaccine on August 3 at a facility in Truro, Nova Scotia. This trial coincides with ongoing virus spread across multiple provinces in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. The World Health Organization has designated the situation as a public health emergency of international concern.
The trial will be conducted at three sites in Canada, enrolling approximately 80 healthy adults. Researchers aim to evaluate the vaccine’s safety, tolerability, and its capacity to elicit an immune response. Since Phase 1 focuses on early safety data, the study will not determine the vaccine’s effectiveness in preventing infection. The Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations has pledged up to $50 million to support preclinical development, the clinical 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, with at least 651 recoveries. Updated data from CEPI on August 4 indicated cases exceeded 3,800 and deaths surpassed 1,700. The outbreak has affected 49 health zones across Ituri, North Kivu, South Kivu, Haut-Uélé, and Tshopo provinces, with 33 zones reporting recent infections. Ituri accounts for 88% of confirmed cases.
Outbreak Highlights Vaccine Shortage
On May 17, WHO declared this outbreak an international public health emergency. It marks DR Congo’s 17th Ebola epidemic since the virus was first identified in 1976. The current outbreak involves the Bundibugyo strain, previously linked to outbreaks in Uganda and DR Congo. No licensed vaccine or targeted treatment exists for this strain, as licensed Ebola vaccines protect against Zaire ebolavirus, a different virus species.
Bundibugyo ebolavirus transmits through direct contact with infected blood, body fluids, organs, or contaminated materials. Public health teams have expanded testing, contact tracing, clinical care, and infection control efforts. As of July 30, officials had identified 17,863 contacts for monitoring. WHO also reported 151 confirmed infections among healthcare workers, including 44 deaths. Conflict, displacement, and attacks on health facilities have hampered response efforts in affected regions.
Vaccine Development Efforts Accelerate
Following Moderna’s trial launch, the University of Oxford initiated a separate Phase 1 vaccine study, vaccinating their first volunteer on July 24 with a candidate based on the ChAdOx1 platform. The Serum Institute of India manufactured about 620,000 doses for stockpiling and provided 4,000 investigational doses for clinical testing. Both programs are supported by CEPI as part of its Bundibugyo vaccine development efforts.
Moderna’s candidate, mRNA-1469, employs the same technology as their COVID-19 vaccine. Additionally, CEPI backs two candidates based on recombinant vesicular stomatitis virus technology—one developed by IAVI with Hilleman Laboratories manufacturing, and another by Public Health Vaccines. None of these candidates has yet received regulatory approval for public use. WHO emphasizes that surveillance, rapid diagnosis, patient care, safe burials, and community engagement are essential to controlling the outbreak.