Ebola vaccine trial begins in DR Congo as outbreak tops 9,700 cases

The first participant in a clinical trial of vaccine candidates against the Bundibugyo strain of Ebola was vaccinated in Bunia, Democratic Republic of the Congo, on Friday, 23 October. The trial is testing potential vaccines; it has not yet established that any of them can prevent the disease.

The World Health Organization says the Phase 2/3 TUMAINI trial opened in Bunia, in eastern Congo, with participants enrolled there. There is currently no approved vaccine against Bundibugyo virus, which is behind the country’s ongoing outbreak.

The Institute of Tropical Medicine, a trial partner, says the first candidate being tested is Ervebo, which is licensed against the Zaire strain of Ebola. Two candidates developed specifically for Bundibugyo virus are being prepared to join the trial. The study will assess candidates’ safety and immune response, as well as their efficacy.

WHO reported 9,704 confirmed cases and 4,687 deaths across eight Congolese provinces as of 20 October. The trial partners describe TUMAINI as an adaptive study, allowing several candidates to be assessed within one framework using ring vaccination, which targets people at high risk through contact with cases.

The trial’s launch marks the start of research to determine whether the candidates can protect against Bundibugyo virus. WHO says the evidence is intended to help improve protection against the disease and prepare for future outbreaks.