Moderna Starts Phase 1 Trial of Bundibugyo Ebola Vaccine

Moderna has begun the first human trial of its experimental vaccine targeting the Bundibugyo strain of Ebola, a virus for which no approved vaccine currently exists. The Phase 1 clinical trial started on Tuesday, August 4, 2026, at three sites in Canada, with the first participants receiving the shot known as mRNA1469. The study aims to enroll approximately 80 healthy adult volunteers to assess the vaccine's safety, tolerability, and ability to generate an immune response.

The trial is supported by an expanded partnership with the Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations, which has committed up to $50 million to fund the early-stage testing and simultaneous manufacturing of additional doses. This parallel approach is designed to allow larger Phase 2 and Phase 3 studies to begin without delay if initial results are favorable. Moderna's candidate uses the same messenger RNA technology platform the company deployed for its COVID-19 vaccines.

The development comes as a major outbreak of Bundibugyo ebolavirus continues to worsen in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. According to data from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention cited by the company, the outbreak...