The Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations (CEPI) has awarded Moderna $50 million to develop an mRNA-based vaccine against the Bundibugyo strain of Ebola, which is driving a severe outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo.
Additional funding includes $3.2 million to the International AIDS Vaccine Initiative for a vaccine using Merck's Ervebo technology, and $8.6 million to the University of Oxford and Serum Institute of India for an adenovirus-based platform.
Currently, there are no licensed vaccines or therapeutics for the Bundibugyo strain, which has caused only three outbreaks to date. The current outbreak is the most severe, with 1,041 cases and 241 deaths reported as of Friday.
Health officials face significant challenges including armed conflict, population mobility, and delayed detection of the virus.