Moderna gets $50M to develop mRNA Ebola vaccine for Bundibugyo strain
As DRC battles a raging Bundibugyo Ebola outbreak, Moderna rushes an mRNA vaccine with $60M backing.
The Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations (CEPI) announced a $60M+ push to accelerate vaccine development against the Bundibugyo ebolavirus (BDBV) amid an uncontrolled outbreak in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Moderna receives up to $50 million for preclinical and Phase 1 clinical testing of its mRNA-based BDBV vaccine candidate, using the same platform that produced its COVID-19 vaccine. The funding also allows Moderna to ramp up manufacturing and prepare for large-scale Phase 2/3 trials. Additionally, CEPI allocated $3.2 million to the International AIDS Vaccine Initiative for a vaccine using Merck's Ervebo platform, and $8.6 million to the University of Oxford and Serum Institute of India for an adenovirus-based approach similar to their COVID-19 vaccine.
This outbreak—only the third caused by the Bundibugyo strain—has no licensed therapeutics or vaccines, unlike the Zaire strain (targeted by Ervebo and Johnson & Johnson's Zabdeno/Mvabea). Challenges include delayed detection, armed conflict, population mobility, and high humanitarian needs. As of last Friday, the WHO reported 1,041 cases (135 confirmed, 906 suspected) and 241 deaths (18 confirmed, 223 suspected). Moderna CEO Stéphane Bancel emphasized the mRNA platform's role in rapid response to emerging infectious disease threats.
- CEPI commits $50M to Moderna for mRNA vaccine against Bundibugyo ebolavirus, with no existing vaccines for this strain.
- Outbreak in DRC has 1,041 cases and 241 deaths; it's only the third Bundibugyo-driven outbreak ever recorded.
- Additional funding goes to IAVI ($3.2M) and Oxford/Serum Institute ($8.6M) for alternative vaccine platforms.
Why It Matters
Urgent need for a vaccine against a neglected Ebola strain amid a worsening outbreak in conflict-ridden DRC.