A first volunteer has received an experimental vaccine designed against the Bundibugyo Ebola virus. This step opens the first human clinical trial specifically targeting this species of the virus. The program responds to an ongoing outbreak in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and neighboring countries.
The candidate, named ChAdOx1 BDBV, was developed by the Oxford Vaccine Group and the Pandemic Sciences Institute. It uses a non-replicating viral vector to present a viral protein to the immune system. This platform is related to the one used for the Oxford-AstraZeneca Covid-19 vaccine.
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The phase I trial is expected to include 50 healthy adults, aged 18 to 55. Its main objective is not yet to measure protection against the disease: researchers first assess the safety, tolerability and immune response triggered by different doses.
The first participant was vaccinated on 24 July 2026 in Oxford. Volunteers will then be followed for several months. Blood analyses will measure antibodies and other immune markers, while recording any possible adverse events after injection.
The Bundibugyo Ebola variant belongs to the same group as Ebola Zaire, but it has different antigenic characteristics. The vaccines already available against Ebola are therefore not considered a sufficient response. A dedicated product must demonstrate that it triggers immunity adapted to this variant.
Development was accelerated by the mobilization of several international partners. The Serum Institute of India manufactured doses intended for trials and for possible wider use.
If the first data are considered satisfactory, additional studies will have to confirm the vaccine's efficacy in exposed populations. These trials could be organized in areas affected by the epidemic. Their implementation will depend on the health situation, local authorizations and phase I results.
Meanwhile, other teams are testing treatments and several vaccine candidates against Bundibugyo Ebola. This diversity reduces the risk of relying on a single solution.