The first participants in Moderna’s clinical trial have been vaccinated against Bundibugyo Ebola virus as the company begins Phase 1 trials in Canada.
The vaccine is being developed using Moderna's mRNA platform, the same underlying technology used in its COVID-19 vaccine, the company said in a press release.
The first phase of the trial will involve around 80 volunteers and will evaluate safety, tolerance and immune response for the Bundibugyo strain of Ebola virus disease, for which there is currently no vaccine.
“Getting Moderna's vaccine candidate into a Phase 1 trial this rapidly is a major step forward in the fight against this deadly outbreak," said Richard Hatchett, chief executive officer at the Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations (CEPI).
CEPI is a global public-private partnership that finances and accelerates the development of vaccines and biological countermeasures against emerging infectious diseases and potential pandemics.
