Scientists at the University of Oxford are set to begin human trials for the first vaccine targeting a rare and deadly strain of Ebola within weeks, injecting 50 UK volunteers with the experimental jab. The trial aims to build immunity against the Bundibugyo strain, which is currently experiencing a severe outbreak primarily in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and Uganda.
The ongoing epidemic has resulted in approximately 1,800 confirmed cases and around 645 fatalities, with recent data from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reporting 100 deaths in the first week of July alone. The Bundibugyo strain, first identified in 2007, has a mortality rate of up to 50% and has previously caused smaller outbreaks in Uganda and the DRC in 2007 and 2012, respectively.
This new vaccine, developed in just eight weeks by Oxford scientists and manufactured by the Serum Institute of India, utilizes a harmless virus to deliver genetic material from the Bundibugyo strain. This process encourages the immune system to produce antibodies that can combat the virus. The vaccine's technology is similar to that used in the Oxford/AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine.
Dr. Katrina Pollock, the trial's chief investigator, stated that phase one trials are standard practice for developing readiness for such outbreaks. The research team also hopes to extend trials to Uganda. Participants will be monitored for up to a year, though significant side effects or lack of effectiveness are expected to emerge much sooner.
Recruitment for volunteers aged 18 to 55 is currently underway. The vaccine has already received approval from the UK's Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) following successful tests on mice and macaque monkeys.
Researchers emphasized that safety standards have not been compromised despite the accelerated development timeline. "We're doing all the same tests that we would normally do, just we're able to do them in parallel," explained researcher Alex Sampson. Dr. Pollock added that severe side effects are rare and that thorough consideration has been given to the implications for healthy trial participants, with any risks to be clearly communicated.
While the Oxford COVID vaccine was administered globally with very rare instances of blood clotting, the potential risks for this Ebola vaccine will be carefully managed. The Bundibugyo strain is spreading in regions of the DRC affected by conflict, complicating healthcare access and potentially leading to underreported case numbers.
In addition to the Oxford vaccine, three other candidates targeting the Bundibugyo strain are in development. Moderna is working on an mRNA-based vaccine, while the International AIDS Vaccine Initiative and Public Health Vaccines in the U.S. are developing vaccines using methods proven effective against other Ebola strains, though these may take longer to produce.
The severity of the current outbreak has prompted governmental scrutiny. Earlier this month, a cross-party group of Members of Parliament questioned the chief medical officer and public health minister regarding the government's preparedness for future epidemics. Europe has seen one confirmed case of Ebola, a doctor who contracted the virus in the DRC. A suspected case in Glasgow was later confirmed as negative.
Ebola is thought to spread through direct contact with the blood or bodily fluids of an infected person or through contaminated surfaces. The virus can be carried for up to 21 days before symptoms appear, the period during which experts believe individuals become infectious.