The University of Oxford has received regulatory approval to begin clinical trials of a vaccine targeting the Bundibugyo species of Ebola, marking the first of four vaccines under development to advance to human testing. The vaccine development began eight weeks ago following the declaration of a public health emergency, with scientists utilizing the same viral vector technology employed in the Oxford-AstraZeneca Covid vaccine to accelerate the development process.
The ongoing Ebola epidemic, primarily affecting the Democratic Republic of the Congo, has resulted in 625 deaths and 1,792 laboratory-confirmed cases. The Bundibugyo species, responsible for the current outbreak, kills approximately one-third of those infected and requires a distinct vaccine from other Ebola variants. Researchers note that the outbreak’s persistence in a conflict zone with highly mobile populations underscores the urgent need for an effective vaccine.
The initial trial phase will involve 50 healthy adults aged 18-55 in the UK, with researchers also preparing for subsequent trials in Africa through partnerships in Uganda. Volunteers will be monitored for one year, though scientists anticipate obtaining data on immune response and potential side effects relatively quickly. The vaccine, manufactured by the Serum Institute of India, has stockpiled approximately 620,000 doses.
The Oxford team’s ability to rapidly develop the vaccine leverages a platform using a genetically modified chimpanzee cold virus as a vector to deliver genetic code from the Bundibugyo species, triggering an immune response without causing infection. While the technology’s previous application raised rare safety concerns affecting up to one in 100,000 people, researchers emphasize that standard safety protocols remain in place and that the risk profile is substantially lower than the threat posed by the virus itself.
Three additional vaccine candidates are being pursued by other organizations, including biotechnology company Moderna using mRNA technology and joint efforts by the International Aids Vaccine Initiative and Public Health Vaccines employing an established approach for other Ebola variants.
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