Moderna & CEPI Accelerate Bundibugugyo Ebola Vaccine Development

The Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations (CEPI) and Moderna, Inc. have significantly expanded their collaboration to accelerate the development of a potential vaccine against the Bundibugyo ebolavirus (BDBV), a strain of Ebola virus for which no licensed vaccines currently exist. This expanded partnership leverages Moderna's advanced mRNA platform, the same technology that proved instrumental in the rapid development and global deployment of COVID-19 vaccines. CEPI has committed up to $50 million to support the preclinical development and Phase 1 clinical testing of Moderna's investigational BDBV vaccine candidate, identified as mRNA-1469. This funding will also cover parallel manufacturing activities, ensuring doses are produced while clinical evaluation is ongoing, thereby positioning the program for swift progression into larger Phase 2/3 trials should the initial safety and immunogenicity data prove favorable. The collaboration builds upon Moderna's existing research and development efforts in filoviruses and strengthens their longstanding strategic partnership with CEPI, which is dedicated to fast-tracking the development of vaccines and other countermeasures against epidemic and pandemic threats. Stéphane Bancel, CEO of Moderna, emphasized the critical role of their mRNA platform in responding to emerging infectious disease threats and expressed pride in expanding the collaboration to advance the Bundibugyo ebolavirus vaccine candidate. Dr. Richard Hatchett, CEO of CEPI, highlighted the urgency of the situation, noting that with Bundibugyo virus spreading rapidly and no licensed vaccines, every day counts in the race against this deadly disease. He stated that CEPI's urgent funding aims to advance safe and effective vaccines to help control the epidemic. The current outbreak of Bundibugyo virus disease in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and Uganda has been declared a Public Health Emergency of International Concern by the World Health Organization (WHO). As of late August 2026, the outbreak had resulted in thousands of confirmed cases and over 3,000 deaths, making it the second-largest Ebola outbreak on record and the largest in the DRC's history. The lack of approved vaccines specifically for the Bundibugyo strain underscores the critical need for such a vaccine. CEPI's approach involves investing in a portfolio of vaccine candidates utilizing different technological platforms to maximize the chances of developing a successful vaccine. In addition to Moderna's mRNA candidate, CEPI is supporting other vaccine candidates based on technologies like recombinant vesicular stomatitis virus (rVSV) and the ChAdOx platform, developed by entities including IAVI, Public Health Vaccines, and the University of Oxford (manufactured by the Serum Institute of India). Minapharm Group, an Egyptian biopharmaceutical company, is also advancing a Bundibugyo vaccine candidate based on the modified vaccinia Ankara (MVA) platform, receiving substantial funding from CEPI as well. Moderna's mRNA-1469 vaccine candidate has already entered a Phase 1 clinical trial, with the first participant dosed in Canada in early August 2026. This trial aims to assess the safety, tolerability, and immune response generated by the vaccine in healthy adult volunteers. The development of these vaccines is crucial for strengthening global health security and improving preparedness for future outbreaks of this and other emerging infectious diseases. The collaboration between CEPI and Moderna is a prime example of public-private partnerships working towards critical public health goals, aligning with CEPI's '100 Days Mission' to rapidly develop and deploy vaccines against emerging threats. The commitment to equitable access, a core principle for CEPI, ensures that if a vaccine is licensed, it will be made available to affected populations at accessible prices, with Moderna committing to supply at least 500,000 doses for low- and middle-income countries. This development is particularly relevant to India as it reinforces global efforts to combat infectious diseases, a significant public health concern in many parts of the world, including India, and showcases advanced technological collaborations in the pharmaceutical sector.

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