Three experimental Ebola Bundibugyo vaccines being fast-tracked amid DRC outbreak

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Three experimental vaccines targeting the Ebola Bundibugyo virus strain are being fast-tracked for development as health authorities respond to an outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) that has raised concerns across the region, including in Uganda.

The Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations (CEPI) announced on Monday that it will support the accelerated development of the three vaccine candidates, including one being developed by the Oxford Vaccine Group at the University of Oxford in the UK.

The vaccines were selected following a review of the Ebola Bundibugyo vaccine projects and consultations with international and African health agencies, including the World Health Organisation (WHO), Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC), The French National Research Agency for HIV, viral hepatitis and emerging infectious diseases (ANRS MIE), Gavi and affected countries.

According to a statement issued by CEPI, all the three candidates use different vaccine technologies, and they have shown the chances of producing an effective vaccine against the virus. One of the vaccine candidates is based on the same technology used in the Oxford-AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine.

CEPI said it has committed up to $8.6 million (approximately sh31.8 billion) to support further development of the Oxford vaccine, including preclinical testing (laboratory studies). The funding will also support the manufacture of vaccine doses for the first stage of human testing, at the Serum Institute of India.

There is currently no approved vaccine for the Ebola Bundibugyo strain, and no candidate has yet entered human clinical trials. The Ebola Bundibugyo virus is one of several strains of Ebola known to cause severe illness in humans. It was first identified in Uganda's Bundibugyo District during an outbreak in 2007.

The latest outbreak in eastern DRC has prompted heightened surveillance and preparedness measures in neighbouring countries.

Uganda's Ministry of Health has since confirmed two additional Ebola cases in Kampala, bringing the total number of confirmed infections to nine, including one death.

According to the health ministry, six of the confirmed cases (including the dead person) are Congolese nationals, while three are Ugandans who include two health workers. 

Uganda’s health authorities have maintained monitoring along border areas and continue to work with regional and international partners to strengthen outbreak preparedness. 

Public health experts say vaccines could become an important additional tool in controlling the disease, alongside measures such as early detection of cases, patient care, contact tracing and community awareness campaigns.

In a statement, the Oxford Vaccine Group and the Pandemic Sciences Institute said they were working with CEPI and other partners to advance development of the vaccine.