Key facts
- The University of Oxford developed a new Ebola vaccine in eight weeks.
- Human trials for the Bundibugyo ebolavirus vaccine have commenced in the UK.
- The vaccine uses the ChAdOx1 BDBV viral vector platform, similar to the Oxford/AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine.
- The trial will assess safety and immune response in 50 healthy adults aged 18-55.
- Serum Institute of India manufactured and stockpiled approximately 620,000 doses.
- The World Health Organization recommended prioritizing this vaccine for clinical evaluation.
The UK has commenced human trials for a new Ebola vaccine, developed in an unprecedented eight weeks by scientists at the University of Oxford. This marks the first of four experimental vaccines to enter clinical testing for the current outbreak in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Uganda.
The vaccine, targeting the Bundibugyo species of Ebola, utilizes the same adenoviral vector technology employed in the Oxford/AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine. This method involves a genetically modified chimpanzee common cold virus acting as a carrier for a snippet of genetic code from the Ebola virus, designed to stimulate an immune response without causing infection.
Dr. Katrina Pollock, leading the trial at Oxford, stated that early-stage trials are routinely conducted to prepare for such emergencies. The initial phase involves 50 healthy adults aged 18-55 in the UK, with vaccinations expected to begin in the coming weeks pending regulatory approval. Preparations are also underway for trials in Uganda.
Researchers emphasized that despite the rapid development, no testing protocols were bypassed. The vaccine was tested on mice and macaque monkeys, and manufactured to clinical standards by the Serum Institute of India, which has produced approximately 620,000 doses. The World Health Organization recommended prioritizing this vaccine for clinical evaluation alongside another candidate.
The Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations said it would initially invest up to $8.6 million for the development of the shot. If the early-stage trial is successful, CEPI will support late-stage studies needed to seek emergency-use authorisation or full regulatory approval, with the aim of ensuring rapid and affordable vaccine supplies for affected countries.