NOVA SCOTIA, CANADA / RankWire.AI / – Moderna has begun a Phase 1 clinical trial testing an experimental vaccine against Bundibugyo ebolavirus in Canada. The initial participant received the mRNA-1469 vaccine on August 3 at a location in Truro, Nova Scotia. This development coincides with the continued spread of the virus across multiple provinces in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. The World Health Organization has designated the outbreak as a public health emergency of international concern.
The trial will be conducted at three sites across Canada, enrolling approximately 80 healthy adults. The primary aims are to evaluate the vaccine’s safety, tolerability, and capacity to elicit an immune response. It is important to note that this Phase 1 trial does not determine the vaccine’s effectiveness in preventing infection. The Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations has allocated up to $50 million to support preclinical research, the clinical trial, and the production of additional research doses.
WHO reported 3,605 confirmed cases and 1,587 deaths in DR Congo up to July 30. At that point, at least 651 patients had recovered. Updated data from CEPI on August 4 indicated that infections exceeded 3,800 and deaths surpassed 1,700. The cases spanned 49 health zones across the provinces of Ituri, North Kivu, South Kivu, Haut-Uélé, and Tshopo. Recent infections were reported in 33 zones, with Ituri accounting for 88% of confirmed cases.
Vaccine Gap Highlighted by Outbreak
On May 17, WHO declared the outbreak an international public health emergency. This marks DR Congo’s 17th Ebola outbreak since the virus was first identified in 1976. The current outbreak involves the Bundibugyo species, which previously caused outbreaks in Uganda and DR Congo. Presently, there is no licensed vaccine or specific treatment targeting this particular Ebola species. Existing approved Ebola vaccines are designed against Zaire ebolavirus, a different member of the virus family.
Bundibugyo ebolavirus spreads via direct contact with infected blood, body fluids, organs, or contaminated materials. In response, public health teams have expanded laboratory testing, contact tracing, clinical management, and infection prevention efforts. By July 30, officials had identified 17,863 contacts for monitoring. WHO also reported 151 confirmed infections among healthcare workers, including 44 fatalities. Ongoing conflict, displacement, and attacks on health facilities have complicated access and hindered response activities in several affected regions.
Multiple Vaccines Enter Clinical Testing
Following Moderna’s initiative, the University of Oxford launched its own Phase 1 vaccine trial, vaccinating the first volunteer on July 24 with a candidate utilizing the ChAdOx1 platform. The Serum Institute of India produced the Oxford vaccine, creating about 620,000 stockpiled doses, and supplied 4,000 investigational doses for clinical evaluation. Both programs are supported by CEPI as part of its effort to develop a vaccine against Bundibugyo ebolavirus.
The Moderna candidate, mRNA-1469, employs the same technology platform as the company’s COVID-19 vaccine. In addition, CEPI funds two other candidates based on recombinant vesicular stomatitis virus technology. One, developed by IAVI and manufactured by Hilleman Laboratories, and another by Public Health Vaccines. At present, none of these candidates has received regulatory approval for widespread use. WHO emphasizes that surveillance, rapid diagnosis, patient management, safe burials, and community engagement remain essential to controlling the outbreak.