Moderna and other groups acquire $60 million to foster Ebola vaccine

Global health body CEPI is funding Moderna and Oxford with $60 million to speed up the evolution of Ebola Bundibugyo vaccines amid an outbreak in Congo.

The Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations was one of the early investors that supported the development of ‌a vaccine at the height of the COVID-19 pandemic.

According to Towards Healthcare, the U.S. vaccines market is projected to experience significant growth, with estimates suggesting the market size will increase from USD 39.88 billion in 2026 to approximately USD 58.26 billion by 2035, representing a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 4.3% from 2026 to 2035. Growth is driven by the surging prevalence of infectious diseases, the need for consistent annual immunization programs to address incidences of both viral and bacterial respiratory diseases, with the rising demographic of older adults, which is propelling a spike in demand for high-margin adult immunizations, specifically for RSV, pneumococcal disease, and herpes zoster.

Head of CEPI, Richard Hatchett, told Reuters it was possible to acquire vaccines against Ebola Bundibugyo developed for trials within a couple of months. Continued to the robustness of vaccines on ‘a not infinitely distant horizon’ should assist in starting conversations about who would buy it & fund any launch.

According to the Africa Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the World Health Organization, there were 282 confirmed cases in Congo, such as 42 deaths, & nearly 1,100 suspected cases.

Furthermore, CEPI announced to fund up to $50 million that will foster preclinical & early clinical development of Moderna’s investigational BDBV vaccine candidate. As per Moderna, this would strengthen the production & expansion of later-stage trials if early data are positive.

In a telephone interview, Moderna's Chief Executive Stephane Bancel stated that they have conducted Ebola studies in preclinical models ⁠with impressive results.

A recent report by Towards Healthcare highlights that the U.S. vaccines market is witnessing growth due to a strong growing repurposed manufacturing facilities have compressed development timelines, providing a highly profitable commercial environment for new preventative therapies, and combining multiple antigens into a single shot cuts down on clinic visits and boosts compliance.