UNICEF, Gavi launch global push to accelerate Bundibugyo Ebola vaccine development

USA—UNICEF and Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance, have launched a global call for information from vaccine developers and manufacturers to accelerate the development and availability of vaccines against the Bundibugyo strain of Ebola.

The initiative follows Gavi’s commitment of up to US$40 million to accelerate access to potential vaccines by supporting manufacturing scale-up and ensuring that doses can be produced rapidly if clinical trials demonstrate safety and effectiveness.

The funding forms part of a broader US$50 million package released through Gavi’s First Response Fund to support both outbreak response activities and vaccine development.

Gathering critical information from developers

Through the newly announced request for expressions of interest, UNICEF and Gavi are seeking detailed information on vaccine candidates, development timelines, manufacturing capacity, regulatory plans, and production readiness.

The information will help partners prioritize the most promising candidates and identify pathways for accelerating access should an effective vaccine emerge.

The effort is being coordinated with key global health partners, including the World Health Organization (WHO), the Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations (CEPI), Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC), and UNICEF.

Gavi has indicated that proposals involving vaccine production in Africa will receive particular consideration as part of broader efforts to strengthen regional manufacturing capacity.

Several vaccine candidates advance

Currently, no vaccine has been approved specifically for the Bundibugyo strain of Ebola.

However, several candidates are advancing through preclinical and early clinical development.

Among the leading contenders is an rVSV-based vaccine being developed by the International AIDS Vaccine Initiative (IAVI).

The organization has confirmed that it is working closely with UNICEF and Gavi and expects to transfer vaccine materials to a manufacturing partner in the coming weeks.

Human clinical trials could begin before the end of 2026 if development proceeds as planned.

Other candidates include the ChAdOx1 vaccine, developed by the University of Oxford and the Serum Institute of India, as well as an mRNA-based vaccine from Moderna, supported by CEPI.

Earlier this month, CEPI announced approximately US$60 million in funding to accelerate the development of Bundibugyo Ebola vaccine candidates, with Moderna receiving up to US$50 million for preclinical studies and early-stage clinical trials.

In addition, Public Health Vaccines is developing a vaccine based on technology similar to that used in Merck’s Ebola vaccine, Ervebo, which is approved for the Zaire strain of the virus but not for Bundibugyo Ebola.

Growing Outbreak Drives Urgency

The push for vaccine development comes as the ongoing outbreak continues to expand across affected regions.

More than 1,000 cases and over 250 deaths have been reported in the DRC and Uganda, making it one of the most significant Bundibugyo Ebola outbreaks on record.

Health authorities have warned that the absence of an approved vaccine leaves communities vulnerable and underscores the need for rapid investment in research, manufacturing, and emergency preparedness.

To support these efforts, Gavi is using its First Response Fund to finance manufacturing readiness, facilitate regulatory pathways, and secure early access to investigational vaccine doses for emergency deployment.

The organization says early investment is essential to ensure that vaccine manufacturers can move quickly from successful clinical trials to large-scale production when needed.