The Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations (CEPI) has moved to accelerate the development of three investigational vaccines against Bundibugyo ebolavirus, including a candidate from the University of Oxford that will be manufactured by the Serum Institute of India (SII), as a fast-growing outbreak in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) and neighbouring Uganda continues to expand.
The decision comes amid the absence of any licensed vaccine for Bundibugyo virus and no candidates currently in clinical development. CEPI said the funding will help prepare the vaccine candidates for clinical trials as quickly as possible, alongside ongoing public health measures in affected countries.
The move has particular significance for India because SII, the world’s largest vaccine manufacturer by volume, will play a central role in producing clinical-grade doses of the Oxford vaccine candidate. The programme builds on CEPI’s existing partnership with the University of Oxford and SII’s participation in CEPI’s Vaccine Manufacturing Facility Network.
Outbreak prompts urgent vaccine push
The current Bundibugyo ebolavirus outbreak has been declared a Public Health Emergency of International Concern (PHEIC) by the World Health Organization (WHO) and a Public Health Emergency of Continental Security (PHECS) by Africa CDC.
According to CEPI, the outbreak has resulted in more than 900 suspected cases and over 220 suspected deaths, making it the third-largest filovirus outbreak in history.
“With Bundibugyo virus spreading rapidly and no licensed vaccines, every day counts in the race against this deadly disease,” said Dr Richard Hatchett, Chief Executive Officer of CEPI.
Dr Hatchett said CEPI’s emergency funding and support were intended to advance safe and effective vaccine candidates that could help contain the epidemic.
Serum Institute’s manufacturing role
CEPI has committed initial funding of up to $8.6 million to support preclinical testing and other development activities for the University of Oxford’s vaccine candidate, which is based on the ChAdOx1 platform. The same platform underpinned the Oxford/AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine.
The funding will also support the creation of a Master Virus Seed stock and the manufacture of clinical-grade vaccine doses at the Serum Institute of India under an existing agreement between CEPI and the company.
Adar Poonawalla, Chief Executive Officer of the Serum Institute of India, said rapid development, large-scale production and equitable access would be critical in responding to the outbreak.
“At moments like this, speed, scale and access is all that matters. SII will bring its manufacturing capabilities to this collaboration with CEPI and the University of Oxford to help advance a Bundibugyo virus vaccine candidate as quickly as possible, while supporting the shared goal of affordable access for affected countries if the vaccine proves successful,” he said.
Why Bundibugyo ebolavirus matters
Bundibugyo ebolavirus is one of the viruses that causes Ebola virus disease. No approved vaccine currently exists for this specific virus strain.
CEPI said the three vaccine candidates were selected after a global review of Bundibugyo virus vaccine programmes and consultations with WHO, Africa CDC, ANRS-MIE, Gavi and affected countries. Each candidate uses a different validated vaccine technology platform to improve the chances of success.
All three platforms have extensive safety data and have previously been used to develop vaccine candidates that demonstrated preclinical or clinical efficacy against related filoviruses.
Professor Teresa Lambe, Calleva Head of Vaccine Immunology at the Oxford Vaccine Group and Pandemic Sciences Institute, said the programme reflected a coordinated international effort to respond to the outbreak.
She said the Oxford team was working with CEPI and global partners, including SII, to advance the vaccine candidate and hoped the collaboration would help curb the spread of the virus.
Preparing for future epidemics
CEPI said the Bundibugyo outbreak, alongside recent hantavirus outbreaks, highlighted the need for stronger public health preparedness and faster development of medical countermeasures.
The organisation said its response supports broader efforts to strengthen vaccine research and development, improve vaccine platform readiness and maintain rapid-response manufacturing and research networks.
The initiative also aligns with the 100 Days Mission, a global effort aimed at enabling the development of vaccines, treatments and diagnostics within 100 days of identifying a new epidemic threat.
For India, the involvement of the Serum Institute of India reinforces the country’s growing role in global epidemic preparedness and vaccine manufacturing. As the Oxford candidate moves towards Phase 1 clinical trials, SII’s production capabilities are expected to be a key component of efforts to deliver a potential Bundibugyo ebolavirus vaccine quickly and at scale.
