NOVA SCOTIA, CANADA / RankWire.AI / – Moderna has commenced a Phase 1 clinical trial for an experimental vaccine targeting Bundibugyo ebolavirus in Canada. The first participant received the mRNA-1469 vaccine on August 3 at a facility in Truro, Nova Scotia. This trial is taking place as the virus continues to spread across multiple provinces in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. The World Health Organization has designated the outbreak as a public health emergency of international concern.
The trial will be conducted across three sites in Canada, aiming to enroll approximately 80 healthy adults. The researchers will evaluate the vaccine’s safety, tolerability, and its capacity to induce an immune response. Since Phase 1 trials primarily focus on early safety data, this study will not determine the vaccine’s effectiveness in preventing infection. The Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations has pledged up to $50 million to fund preclinical research, the trial itself, and the production of additional doses for research purposes.
WHO recorded 3,605 confirmed cases and 1,587 deaths in DR Congo as of July 30. At that point, at least 651 patients had recovered. Updated data from CEPI on August 4 indicated that infections had risen above 3,800 with deaths exceeding 1,700. The cases spanned 49 health zones across Ituri, North Kivu, South Kivu, Haut-Uélé, and Tshopo provinces. Thirty-three health zones reported recent infections, with Ituri accounting for 88% of confirmed cases.
Outbreak Highlights Vaccine Shortage
On May 17, WHO declared the outbreak an international public health emergency. This marks the 17th Ebola outbreak in DR Congo since scientists identified the virus in 1976. The current epidemic involves the Bundibugyo strain, which has previously caused outbreaks in Uganda and DR Congo. No licensed vaccine or targeted treatment exists for this specific Ebola species, as existing licensed vaccines protect against Zaire ebolavirus, a different member of the virus family.
Bundibugyo ebolavirus transmits through direct contact with infected blood, body fluids, organs, or contaminated objects. Local health authorities have ramped up laboratory testing, contact tracing, clinical management, and infection control measures. As of July 30, officials had identified 17,863 contacts for monitoring. WHO also reported 151 confirmed infections among healthcare workers, including 44 fatalities. Ongoing conflict, displacement, and assaults on health facilities have hampered access and response efforts in several affected regions.
Multiple Vaccines Enter Clinical Testing
This Moderna trial follows a separate Phase 1 study launched by the University of Oxford. The Oxford team vaccinated their first volunteer on July 24 with a candidate based on the ChAdOx1 platform. The Serum Institute of India produced around 620,000 stockpiled doses of the Oxford vaccine and supplied 4,000 investigational doses for clinical trials. Both programs are supported by CEPI as part of its effort to develop a vaccine for the Bundibugyo strain.
Moderna’s mRNA-1469 candidate employs the same technology platform as the company’s COVID-19 vaccine. Additionally, CEPI funds two other candidates utilizing recombinant vesicular stomatitis virus technology. One was developed by IAVI, with Hilleman Laboratories leading production, and the other by Public Health Vaccines. None of these candidates have received regulatory approval for widespread use. According to WHO, controlling the outbreak continues to depend on surveillance, rapid diagnosis, patient care, safe burial practices, and community engagement.