DR Congo begins Tumaini Ebola vaccine trial

The Democratic Republic of Congo has begun the Tumaini clinical trial in Bunia to assess whether an existing Ebola vaccine can protect against the Bundibugyo virus responsible for the country’s outbreak, the World Health Organization said. The first participants were vaccinated on October 23, according to WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus. The DRC-led study will test Ervebo, which is licensed to prevent disease caused by the Zaire species of Ebola, for possible cross-protection against Bundibugyo. Its effectiveness against Bundibugyo in humans has not been established. No vaccine has been approved specifically for that virus. Tumaini uses a ring-vaccination approach, focusing on contacts considered at high risk of infection. Its platform is designed to assess multiple vaccine candidates within one trial. Two candidates developed specifically for Bundibugyo, one from the University of Oxford and another from Moderna, are expected to enter the study, according to the Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations. They were not described as having begun trial participation. The trial is intended to generate evidence on vaccine safety, immune response and...