UK scientists developing new Ebola vaccine that could be ready in months
Oxford University scientists are developing a new Ebola vaccine targeting the rare Bundibugyo species, which could enter clinical trials in two to three months. The World Health Organization (WHO) has upgraded the risk of the current outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo from 'high' to 'very high' and declared a public health emergency of international concern, though it is not yet a pandemic.
Scientists at Oxford University are racing to develop a new vaccine for the rare Bundibugyo strain of Ebola, which has caused 750 suspected cases and 177 deaths in the Democratic Republic of Congo. The outbreak has prompted the World Health Organization (WHO) to raise the risk assessment from 'high' to 'very high' and declare a public health emergency of international concern, though it is not yet classified as a pandemic. Unlike the more common Zaire strain, Bundibugyo has no proven vaccine, and this new candidate could be ready for clinical trials within two to three months. The vaccine uses the same ChAdOx1 technology developed during the Covid-19 pandemic, which involves a modified chimpanzee cold virus to deliver genetic material from the Bundibugyo strain to the immune system. Animal testing is currently underway at Oxford, with the Serum Institute of India prepared to mass-produce the vaccine once medical-grade material is available. Prof. Lambe, head of the Oxford Vaccine Group, emphasized the urgency, stating that while containment efforts like contact tracing remain critical, preparations must continue in case the outbreak worsens. The WHO has noted that no animal data yet supports the vaccine’s effectiveness, but it remains a potential candidate for further research. A separate experimental Bundibugyo vaccine is also in development, though it may take six to nine months before doses are available for testing. Unlike Covid-19 vaccines, Ebola vaccines are typically deployed through 'ring vaccination,' targeting only high-risk individuals such as close contacts of confirmed cases. The current outbreak marks Bundibugyo’s first appearance in over a decade, with previous cases recorded in Uganda (2007) and DR Congo (2012). The WHO’s high-risk assessment for the region contrasts with a low international risk, as the virus has not yet spread beyond the affected area. Oxford’s rapid response leverages its adaptable vaccine platform, which was previously used to develop the Covid-19 vaccine, aiming to deliver a solution as quickly as possible.
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