Cairo: The Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations (CEPI) has announced an investment of up to 16.5 million dollars in collaboration with Minapharm Group to advance a Bundibugyo ebolavirus vaccine candidate into clinical trials. This initiative aims to enhance efforts to develop effective vaccines against Ebola.
According to News Agency of Nigeria, CEPI’s funding will support the development of the vaccine candidate in partnership with Berlin-based ProBioGen, utilizing its modified vaccinia Ankara vaccine platform, MVA-CR19. The focus is on addressing the ongoing epidemic in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), which is experiencing the fastest-growing and second-largest Ebola outbreak on record.
CEPI aims to progress at least two Bundibugyo vaccines to Emergency Use Authorisation and World Health Organization prequalification for the current outbreak. The funding will support preclinical development and an early-stage clinical trial to evaluate the vaccine’s immunogenicity and safety, with a Phase One trial expected to take place in Africa.
Minapharm’s candidate is the fifth Bundibugyo-specific virus vaccine supported by CEPI, amidst the escalating epidemic. Dr Richard Hatchett, CEO of CEPI, emphasized the importance of African-led innovation in confronting the outbreak and preparing for future health threats, noting the rapid spread of Bundibugyo cases across the DRC.
Dr Wafik Bardissi, Group Chairman and CEO of Minapharm, highlighted the company’s capabilities in biologics development and manufacturing, asserting that CEPI’s support is pivotal in advancing a vaccine response for Africa. Dr Volker Sandig of ProBioGen added that their MVA-CR19 platform enables rapid generation and scalable manufacturing of recombinant vaccine candidates.
Dr Jean Kaseya of the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention underscored the significance of African companies developing vaccines, reflecting the continent’s growing capacity to protect its population. ProBioGen is set to generate the recombinant MVA drug substance, which will then be shipped to Minapharm’s facility in Cairo for formulation and packaging. Minapharm plans to locally manufacture both the drug substance and finished vaccine product.
Should the Phase One trial prove successful, CEPI anticipates collaborating with Minapharm and ProBioGen for late-stage trials to gather efficacy data for emergency authorisation and licensure. Both organizations are committed to ensuring rapid and affordable vaccine supply to affected regions if the vaccine is deemed safe and effective. CEPI’s funding was awarded following Minapharm’s successful application to its Call for Proposals for advancing Bundibugyo vaccine candidates.