Moderna and Partners Receive $60 Million to Advance Ebola Vaccine Development

Global Health Organisation CEPI Commits $60 Million to Develop Ebola Vaccines

The Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations (CEPI) has pledged approximately $60 million to support the development of vaccines against the deadly Ebola Bundibugyo virus, which has been sweeping through eastern Democratic Republic of Congo.

CEPI, a global health organisation, was one of the early investors that helped to develop a vaccine at the height of the COVID-19 pandemic. The organisation's head, Richard Hatchett, has stated that it is possible to get vaccines against Ebola Bundibugyo ready for trials within a couple of months.

There are currently no approved vaccines or treatments for Ebola Bundibugyo, a highly infectious and deadly virus. The outbreak in eastern Congo has caused 282 confirmed cases, including 42 deaths, and around 1,100 suspected cases, according to the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention and the World Health Organization.

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In addition to the deaths in Congo, nine cases have been confirmed in Uganda, including one death. The global health agencies have declared the outbreak a public health emergency.

CEPI's Funding Breakdown

CEPI has committed up to $50 million to support preclinical development and early clinical testing of Moderna's investigational Ebola Bundibugyo vaccine candidate. The funding will also support manufacturing and progression to later-stage trials if early data are positive.

In addition to the funding for Moderna, CEPI will also invest up to $8.6 million for a shot developed by the University of Oxford and manufactured by the Serum Institute of India, and an initial $3.2 million for a vaccine developed by the International AIDS Vaccine Initiative (IAVI).

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Vaccine Development Challenges

Vaccine development can be unpredictable, and the challenging security situation in eastern Congo will make trials complex. However, Hatchett has stated that the promise of vaccines on "a not infinitely distant horizon" should help to start conversations about who would buy it and fund any roll-out.

Access to Vaccines

Once a vaccine is developed, the next challenge will be ensuring access to the shots where they are needed. Hatchett has stated that 300,000 doses of Ervebo, a vaccine developed by Merck, were needed to bring the 2018-2020 Ebola Zaire outbreak in a similar region of Congo under control.

Additional Funding

Separately, global vaccine alliance Gavi has committed up to $50 million to the Ebola response, and the World Bank's Pandemic Fund has announced up to $220.6 million in grants.