The Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations (CEPI) has announced a critical initiative to accelerate the development of three investigational vaccines against the Bundibugyo ebolavirus (BDBV), a rare but deadly strain responsible for an ongoing epidemic in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) and Uganda. This decisive action underscores the global health community’s urgent response to an escalating public health crisis, prioritizing candidates from IAVI, Moderna, and the University of Oxford following extensive global review and consultations with leading health organizations, including the World Health Organization (WHO) and the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC).
The Urgent Call for a Bundibugyo Vaccine
The Bundibugyo ebolavirus, one of six known species of the Ebola virus, presents a unique challenge to global health security. Unlike the more commonly encountered Zaire ebolavirus, for which a licensed vaccine (Ervebo) exists, there are currently no approved vaccines or specific treatments for BDBV, nor are any in clinical development. This critical gap leaves affected communities highly vulnerable. The current outbreak, localized in the DRC and Uganda, marks only the third known instance of BDBV transmission, following initial outbreaks in 2007 in Bundibugyo, Uganda, and later in 2012 in the DRC. The rarity of past outbreaks has historically presented significant hurdles for commercial vaccine development, as the limited market incentive discourages substantial private sector investment in research and development.
Richard Hatchett, CEO of CEPI, emphasized the gravity of the situation in a recent press release, stating, "With Bundibugyo virus spreading rapidly and no licensed vaccines, every day counts in the race against this deadly disease. CEPI’s urgent funding and support for these three promising candidates aims to advance safe, effective vaccines to help control this epidemic." This sentiment reflects the heightened awareness within the global health community that proactive investment in epidemic preparedness, even for rare pathogens, is far more cost-effective and humane than reactive measures during a full-blown crisis.
CEPI’s Strategic Role in Epidemic Preparedness
CEPI was founded in 2017 in response to the devastating 2014-2016 West African Ebola epidemic, which exposed critical gaps in the world’s ability to develop and deploy vaccines rapidly against emerging infectious diseases. Its mission is to accelerate the development of vaccines against emerging infectious diseases and to enable equitable access to these vaccines for affected populations during outbreaks. CEPI operates as a partnership between public, private, philanthropic, and civil society organizations, focusing on diseases with epidemic or pandemic potential, often those neglected by traditional market forces. By providing significant upfront funding, technical expertise, and coordinating efforts, CEPI de-risks vaccine development for pathogens like BDBV, which might otherwise languish in preclinical stages.
The fast-tracking of these BDBV vaccine candidates is a testament to CEPI’s mandate. The organization’s rigorous selection process involved a comprehensive global review of available scientific data, consultations with leading virologists, epidemiologists, and public health experts from the WHO, Africa CDC, and other international health bodies. This multi-stakeholder approach ensures that the most scientifically sound and strategically important candidates are prioritized for investment, maximizing the chances of success in a compressed timeline.
The Three Frontrunners: Diverse Platforms for a Common Foe
CEPI’s selection of IAVI, Moderna, and the University of Oxford’s candidates highlights a strategic diversification of vaccine platforms. This approach mitigates risk, as different platforms may offer varying degrees of efficacy, safety profiles, and manufacturing scalability, increasing the likelihood of at least one successful vaccine.
IAVI’s rVSV Vaccine: Leveraging Proven Technology
IAVI’s vaccine candidate utilizes a recombinant vesicular stomatitis virus (rVSV) platform, a technology that has already demonstrated significant success and utility in the fight against Ebola. Originally developed at The University of Texas Medical Branch, this platform elicits protective immunity after a single dose. Crucially, it is the same technology employed in Ervebo, the world’s only licensed vaccine for Zaire ebolavirus, which played a pivotal role in controlling outbreaks in the DRC. Furthermore, an rVSV-based vaccine was successfully deployed during a 2025 Sudan virus outbreak in Uganda, further validating its rapid deployment capabilities and effectiveness against related filoviruses.
The BDBV rVSV candidate has shown promising protective efficacy in non-human primate studies, a critical preclinical milestone. However, it has not yet undergone evaluation in human clinical trials. The WHO has identified this candidate as the most promising among CEPI’s selections, likely due to the established track record and regulatory approval pathway for the rVSV platform in Ebola vaccines. CEPI’s investment of $3.2 million will be instrumental in advancing this candidate, specifically supporting the generation of a Master Virus Seed stock and facilitating the transfer of manufacturing processes to a contract development and manufacturing organization (CDMO) for Good Manufacturing Practice (GMP) production. These steps are essential for producing clinical-grade vaccine doses required for human trials and eventual large-scale manufacturing.
Moderna’s mRNA Platform: The COVID-19 Legacy in a New Fight
Moderna’s BDBV vaccine candidate harnesses the power of messenger RNA (mRNA) technology, the same innovative platform that proved transformative during the COVID-19 pandemic. The rapid development and high efficacy of mRNA COVID-19 vaccines propelled this technology to the forefront of vaccine science, showcasing its potential for quick adaptation to new pathogens and rapid scalability.
CEPI is making a substantial investment of up to $50 million in Moderna’s candidate. This funding is earmarked to cover preclinical testing, the crucial Phase 1 clinical trials to assess safety and immunogenicity in humans, and critically, simultaneous manufacturing efforts. This parallel approach is a hallmark of "fast-tracking" in emergency vaccine development, designed to drastically shorten timelines by initiating manufacturing before full clinical trial results are available. Should Phase 1 trials prove successful, this strategy will enable the program to advance immediately into Phase 2 and Phase 3 efficacy trials without delay, potentially saving months, if not years, in the development process.
Stephane Bancel, CEO of Moderna, affirmed the company’s commitment, stating in the press release, "We will move with urgency and scientific rigor to support the response and help bring a potential vaccine closer to the communities that need it most." For Moderna, this collaboration with CEPI represents a strategic opportunity. The company’s financial performance in the recent past has highlighted the challenges of sustaining revenue post-COVID-19 vaccine peak. In the fourth quarter of last year, Moderna’s revenue was down 30% year over year. The first quarter of 2026 brought in $0.4 billion, with approximately 80% originating from international markets. Furthermore, in 2025, the company reported spending $3.1 billion on research and development expenses against a revenue of only $1.9 billion.
CEPI’s significant investment effectively offloads the financial risk associated with developing a vaccine for a rare disease like BDBV, which has a limited commercial market. This grant allows Moderna to continue validating and diversifying its mRNA technology platform, accumulate crucial clinical data for its broader filovirus vaccine pipeline (which often includes targets like Ebola, Marburg, and Sudan viruses), all at minimal direct financial cost to the company. This model illustrates how public-private partnerships, facilitated by organizations like CEPI, can bridge the gap between scientific innovation and public health needs, particularly for pathogens that do not attract traditional commercial investment.
Interestingly, this substantial CEPI investment in mRNA technology occurs against a backdrop of shifting policy in the United States. In August 2025, the Trump administration reportedly terminated 22 contracts focused on developing mRNA vaccines and initiated the winding down of additional federal investments in mRNA technology. This divergence underscores the differing priorities and strategies between international preparedness organizations and specific national governments regarding advanced vaccine technologies, potentially impacting future innovation and global health security.
University of Oxford’s ChAdOx1 Platform: A Broad-Spectrum Approach
The University of Oxford’s vaccine candidate leverages the ChAdOx1 viral vector platform, the same robust technology that underpinned AstraZeneca’s widely deployed COVID-19 vaccine. This platform uses a harmless chimpanzee adenovirus to deliver genetic material that triggers an immune response. The ChAdOx1 platform has demonstrated its versatility and efficacy against a range of infectious diseases, and critically, it has shown cross-protective efficacy against several related filoviruses, including Zaire ebolavirus, Sudan virus, and Marburg virus. This broad-spectrum potential makes it a valuable asset in the fight against a family of highly virulent pathogens.
CEPI has committed $8.6 million to the University of Oxford’s candidate. This funding will cover essential preclinical testing, the creation of a Master Virus Seed stock, and the crucial production of clinical-grade doses necessary for human trials. The established safety profile and manufacturing pathways of the ChAdOx1 platform, proven during the rapid COVID-19 vaccine rollout, offer a strong foundation for accelerating the BDBV candidate through the development pipeline.
A Coordinated Global Response and Future Preparedness
Beyond the immediate fast-tracking of these three candidates, CEPI is actively pursuing a broader strategy for long-term epidemic preparedness. The organization continues to evaluate additional promising vaccine candidates for BDBV, including through an ongoing open call for proposals, ensuring that no potential solution is overlooked.
Crucially, CEPI is also coordinating closely with key global health partners such as Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance, the World Bank, and various development finance institutions. This collaboration aims to ensure that surge financing mechanisms are in place and readily available for large-scale procurement and equitable distribution should any of these vaccine candidates successfully navigate clinical trials and receive regulatory approval. This forward-looking approach to financing and access is vital, as successful development alone is insufficient if vaccines cannot reach the populations most in need, especially in resource-limited settings like the DRC and Uganda.
The current BDBV epidemic in Central Africa serves as a stark reminder of the persistent threat posed by emerging and re-emerging infectious diseases. The rapid response orchestrated by CEPI, bringing together leading scientific institutions and pharmaceutical innovators, exemplifies a paradigm shift in global health: moving from reactive crisis management to proactive, collaborative investment in vaccine development. The success of these fast-tracked candidates will not only provide a crucial tool against the current BDBV outbreak but will also further validate diverse vaccine platforms, strengthen global pandemic preparedness architecture, and ultimately save lives by shortening the time from pathogen identification to vaccine deployment. The world watches with hope as these critical efforts unfold, aiming to turn the tide against a formidable, yet often overlooked, viral threat.
