Moderna begins testing an experimental mRNA Ebola vaccine in people after Health Canada authorizes the study in Canada. The trial is described as a Phase 1 effort and involves a vaccine designed to target the Ebola virus strain responsible for the largest Ebola outbreak reported in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). Multiple outlets note that this work is the second Ebola vaccine candidate to move into clinical trials against the strain driving the current DRC outbreak. Moderna’s candidate is presented as an mRNA approach and is aimed at addressing the specific type of Ebola affecting the outbreak. One report says there is no approved vaccine or treatment for the Bundibugyo type of Ebola, which has caused deaths in the region.
The trial comes as the outbreak continues to worsen, with reported figures exceeding 3,700 confirmed cases and about 1,600 deaths. Quartz reports that the project receives backing of up to $50 million from CEPI. The information across sources focuses on regulatory authorization, trial initiation, target strain, and the scale of the ongoing outbreak.
