With a potential $99m funding package from the US Government, international health partners are accelerating efforts to develop a single-dose Bundibugyo virus vaccine as the Democratic Republic of Congo battles one of the deadliest Ebola outbreaks on record.
By Joy Omagha Idam
As the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) confronts a devastating Ebola epidemic that has claimed thousands of lives, a major international vaccine development initiative is offering renewed hope in the global fight against one of the world’s most dangerous infectious diseases.
At the centre of this ambitious effort is IAVI, a global nonprofit biomedical research organisation, which has secured an initial $36 million award from the United States Government’s Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority (BARDA) to advance the development, manufacturing and clinical evaluation of a promising single-dose vaccine candidate against Bundibugyo virus (BDBV).
The award forms part of a contract valued at up to $99 million and represents a significant investment in strengthening global preparedness against emerging infectious diseases, particularly Ebola variants for which approved vaccines and specific treatments remain unavailable.
Announced on October 28, 2026, the initiative brings together IAVI and three major international partners: Hilleman Laboratories, SK bioscience and IDT Biologika. Their combined expertise is expected to accelerate vaccine development, improve manufacturing capacity and establish a more reliable supply system for potential outbreak response.
The urgency of the initiative cannot be overstated.
As of October 21, 2026, the ongoing Bundibugyo virus epidemic in the Democratic Republic of Congo had recorded 9,765 confirmed cases and 4,727 deaths. The outbreak is already the second largest Ebola epidemic on record and threatens to become the largest ever.
Against this alarming background, the development of a vaccine capable of providing protection through a single administration has become an important public health priority.
THE SEARCH FOR A ONE-DOSE SOLUTION
Unlike conventional vaccination programmes that may require multiple doses and extended intervals, the IAVI vaccine candidate is designed to provide protection through a single injection.
This approach could prove particularly valuable during emergency outbreaks, where rapid deployment, difficult terrain, limited healthcare infrastructure and the movement of affected populations can complicate vaccination campaigns.
A single-dose vaccine could simplify logistics, reduce the demands on healthcare workers and make it easier to protect people who have been exposed to the virus or are at heightened risk of infection.
The vaccine is based on recombinant vesicular stomatitis virus (rVSV) technology, a platform that has already demonstrated its potential in the development of an approved vaccine against the Zaire strain of Ebola virus.
However, Bundibugyo virus is a distinct Ebola species. The vaccine developed against the Zaire strain cannot simply be assumed to provide protection against it. This makes the development of a dedicated BDBV vaccine particularly important.
IAVI’s candidate has demonstrated high-level protective efficacy in nonhuman primate studies, with protection observed within days of vaccination in some research.
The findings provide encouraging scientific evidence, although the candidate has not yet been evaluated in human clinical trials.
The next critical stage is therefore to advance clinical evaluation, beginning with a Phase 1 trial, which will assess the vaccine’s safety and initial immune response in humans.
A GLOBAL PARTNERSHIP WITH COMPLEMENTARY STRENGTHS
One of the most significant aspects of the $36 million award is the international partnership assembled to move the vaccine from research towards clinical application and eventual emergency deployment.
IAVI will provide overall programme leadership, coordinating product development, clinical research, regulatory strategy, engagement with the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and outbreak preparedness planning.
Hilleman Laboratories, a Singapore-based joint venture between biopharmaceutical company MSD and charitable foundation Wellcome, will manufacture the initial vaccine doses required for clinical evaluation.
The organisation will adapt an updated manufacturing process currently being developed for MSD’s World Health Organization-prequalified Ebola vaccine. It will also facilitate technology transfer to support expanded production should the programme require larger manufacturing capacity.
South Korea’s SK bioscience will lead manufacturing scale-up activities, working to generate sufficient supplies of the investigational vaccine as development progresses.
Germany-based IDT Biologika, a contract development and manufacturing organisation and subsidiary of SK bioscience, will undertake the fill-and-finish process, preparing vaccine doses for storage and stockpiling.
MSD will also provide technical assistance to support manufacturing activities.
This division of responsibilities reflects the growing importance of international cooperation in addressing global health emergencies. Vaccine development requires more than scientific discovery; it demands investment, manufacturing expertise, regulatory coordination, clinical research and an effective distribution strategy.
By bringing these capabilities together, the partners hope to establish a production model that can respond more efficiently to future outbreaks.
UPDATING THE VACCINE FOR THE 2026 OUTBREAK
Beyond advancing the existing vaccine candidate, the BARDA-funded programme will support the development of an updated version designed to match the viral variant responsible for the 2026 Bundibugyo outbreak.
This is particularly important because the vaccine candidate currently in early-stage development is based on the virus strain identified during the 2007 outbreak.
The updated candidate is intended to address the genetic and biological characteristics of the virus currently circulating in the DRC.
The programme will also support the manufacture of vaccine doses for clinical evaluation and potential outbreak response, alongside regulatory activities and options for expanded production.
The ultimate ambition is to make the vaccine available for a planned ring vaccination trial in the DRC following Phase 1 evaluation.
Ring vaccination involves immunising people who have been identified as contacts of confirmed cases, as well as contacts of those contacts. The strategy is designed to establish a protective barrier around infected individuals and interrupt further transmission.
If successful, this approach could become an important instrument in containing the current epidemic and preventing future outbreaks from spreading.
BUILDING PREPAREDNESS BEYOND THE CURRENT CRISIS
For IAVI and its partners, the initiative is not simply about responding to an immediate emergency. It is also about building the scientific and industrial capacity required to confront infectious disease threats before they develop into major international crises.
The BARDA award complements ongoing activities supported by the Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations (CEPI), which is funding efforts to accelerate the development and manufacturing of Bundibugyo vaccine doses for outbreak control and response.
While CEPI’s support focuses on accelerating vaccine development and availability, the BARDA programme places additional emphasis on manufacturing readiness, stockpile supply and long-term preparedness.
Together, the investments are expected to strengthen the pathway from scientific research to emergency vaccine availability.
Speaking on the award, IAVI President and Chief Executive Officer, Dr. Mark Feinberg, described the investment as an important step towards addressing a critical unmet public health need.
He said the collaboration would combine IAVI’s expertise in rVSV vaccine development, clinical advancement, regulatory engagement and outbreak preparedness with the manufacturing capabilities of its international partners.
According to him, the objective is to accelerate the development of the vaccine candidate while strengthening preparedness for future Bundibugyo virus outbreaks.
Hilleman Laboratories Chief Executive Officer, Dr. Raman Rao, also highlighted the complexity of vaccine manufacturing, stressing that successful production requires several specialised organisations working together across the entire value chain.
He said his organisation was focused on supplying clinical trial materials and advancing technology transfer for manufacturing at scale.
Similarly, SK bioscience CEO, Jaeyong Ahn, emphasised the importance of sustained investment in vaccine development and manufacturing capabilities to prepare for emerging infectious disease threats.
IDT Biologika’s Head of Global Portfolio and Strategy, Dr. Antje Ksienzyk, described the collaboration as an important contribution to strengthening global preparedness and improving access to potentially life-saving vaccines.
A PROMISING PLATFORM WITH GLOBAL IMPLICATIONS
The significance of the initiative extends beyond Bundibugyo virus.
IAVI’s expanding rVSV-based vaccine research portfolio includes candidates targeting Sudan virus, Lassa fever, Marburg virus and Crimean-Congo haemorrhagic fever.
These diseases represent serious public health challenges, particularly in regions where outbreaks can overwhelm healthcare systems and access to specialised treatment remains limited.
The World Health Organization had previously identified IAVI’s single-dose rVSV-based Bundibugyo vaccine candidate as the most promising candidate in development against the virus.
Its encouraging results in nonhuman primate studies have strengthened scientific interest in the technology, although human clinical evaluation remains essential before its safety and effectiveness can be established for public use.
For Africa, where emerging infectious diseases continue to place pressure on public health infrastructure, developments of this nature carry particular importance.
The continent needs not only access to vaccines developed elsewhere but also stronger participation in global biomedical research, clinical trials, manufacturing partnerships and emergency preparedness systems.
The current DRC epidemic is a reminder that infectious diseases do not respect national boundaries. Effective protection requires international collaboration, timely scientific investment and the capacity to manufacture and distribute medical interventions when they are needed most.
The $36 million BARDA award is therefore more than a financial commitment. It is an investment in scientific innovation, manufacturing readiness and a coordinated international response to a persistent global health threat.
Although important scientific and regulatory milestones remain before the vaccine can be approved and widely deployed, the partnership has opened a promising new chapter in the fight against Bundibugyo virus.
For millions of people living in vulnerable communities, the hope is that the research now receiving international backing will translate into a safe, effective and accessible vaccine capable of saving lives when the next outbreak strikes.