Moderna Begins Phase 1 Trial of mRNA Ebola Vaccine Amid Congo Outbreak
Moderna has initiated a Phase 1 clinical trial for its mRNA vaccine, mRNA-1469, aimed at the Bundibugyo ebolavirus strain, with the first doses administered on Tuesday. This trial, which has received authorization from Health Canada, will recruit approximately 80 healthy participants across three sites in Canada to evaluate safety and immune response. Funded in part by a partnership with CEPI, which has pledged up to $50 million for both testing and production, this effort comes in response to an outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo, where there have been 3,748 confirmed cases and 1,657 fatalities as of August 1. CEPI's CEO, Dr. Richard Hatchett, remarked that this outbreak is the second-largest in Ebola history. If approved, Moderna aims to provide at least 500,000 doses to low- and middle-income nations.
Key facts
- Moderna began vaccinating first participants in Phase 1 trial of mRNA-1469 on Tuesday.
- The trial is authorized by Health Canada and runs at three sites in Canada.
- The trial aims to enroll about 80 healthy adults.
- mRNA-1469 targets Bundibugyo ebolavirus, for which no approved vaccine exists.
- CEPI has committed up to $50 million to support the trial and manufacturing.
- The Bundibugyo outbreak in DRC had 3,748 confirmed cases and 1,657 deaths as of August 1.
- The WHO and Africa CDC have declared the outbreak a public health emergency.
- Moderna pledged to supply at least 500,000 doses to low- and middle-income countries at preferential pricing if approved.
Entities
Institutions
- Moderna
- Health Canada
- Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations (CEPI)
- University of Oxford
- International AIDS Vaccine Initiative
- World Health Organization (WHO)
- Africa CDC
- U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)
- Reuters
Locations
- Canada
- Democratic Republic of Congo
- West Africa
Sources
- Quartz —