The Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations (CEPI) has granted $61.8 million to three vaccine developers to fast-track vaccines against the Bundibugyo strain of Ebola, following a major outbreak in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Uganda.
Moderna received the largest award of up to $50 million to advance an mRNA-based candidate. The University of Oxford, in partnership with the Serum Institute of India, secured up to $8.6 million for a vaccine using the ChAdOx1 platform. IAVI got up to $3.2 million for a candidate based on the rVSV platform, already proven effective against the Zaire strain.
There is currently no licensed vaccine for the Bundibugyo virus. CEPI is simultaneously moving all three candidates forward to compress development timelines. The outbreak has caused more than 900 suspected cases and over 220 suspected deaths, making it the third-largest filovirus outbreak on record.
CEPI CEO Dr. Richard Hatchett emphasized the urgency, stating every day counts against the spreading disease. Africa CDC Director General Dr. Jean Kaseya called the investment critical for Africa's health and economic security.