New Ebola vaccine trial launches as outbreak spreads in DR Congo
The WHO reports progress on trials for a new Ebola vaccine targeting the Bundibugyo species amid the DRC’s largest outbreak, with results expected in months. Animal trials have begun in the UK and Canada, while a clinical trial for a post-exposure treatment is underway in Ituri province.
The World Health Organization (WHO) announced on Tuesday that trials for a vaccine against the Bundibugyo species of Ebola have commenced, though definitive results may take months. This follows the declaration of the outbreak in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) in mid-May, with protocols already established to accelerate research. Dr. Vasee Moorthy, WHO’s acting lead for the R&D Blueprint, noted that no proven treatments or vaccines currently exist for this Ebola species, underscoring the urgency of the trials.
Two vaccine trials are underway: one in the United Kingdom, which entered phase one on 24 July, and another set to begin in Canada in the coming days. Both trials are being conducted on ferrets and monkeys, with results to be analyzed by WHO before advancing to the next phase. Additionally, new data from animal studies on the licensed Ervebo vaccine, which targets a different Ebola strain, has emerged, according to WHO.
A clinical trial for a potential post-exposure prophylaxis medicine is ongoing in Ituri province, led by the DRC’s National Institute for Biomedical Research and an international consortium. The trial has enrolled over 25 patients to assess whether a 10-day oral medication can prevent disease onset in high-risk contacts. Three testing sites are currently operational, with a fourth expected to open this week.
The UN health agency’s technical advisory group met last Friday and is expected to release recommendations later this week. Meanwhile, the UN aid coordination office OCHA has allocated up to $60 million through the Global Emergency Fund to support response and preparedness efforts in the DRC and neighboring countries.