CEPI backs push to bring Egyptian biotech's Ebola vaccine into clinic to curb fast-growing outbreak

Biotech CEPI backs push to bring Egyptian biotech's Ebola vaccine into clinic to curb fast-growing outbreak By Nick Paul Taylor Aug 27, 2026 10:10am ProBioGen CEPI Ebola Vaccine The Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations (CEPI) has committed up to $16.5 million to push Minapharm’s Bundibugyo vaccine candidate into the clinic, furthering its response to the Ebola outbreak. In recent months, more than 2,700 people have died in the Bundibugyo ebolavirus outbreak, primarily in the Democratic Republic of Congo. Seeking to suppress what is now the second-largest Ebola outbreak on record, CEPI called (PDF) for proposals from companies with promising vaccine candidates against the pathogen.

Minapharm answered the call. Working with its Berlin-based unit ProBioGen, the Egyptian drugmaker is developing a vaccine candidate based on the modified vaccinia Ankara platform. A similar technology has provided long-term immunity against Zaire ebolavirus, a related pathogen.

CEPI funding positions Minapharm to take its Bundibugyo vaccine candidate through preclinical tests and into an early-stage human trial. The early-stage study, which will assess the candidate’s safety and immunogenicity, is expected to take place in Africa. Minapharm’s candidate is advancing in parallel to other potential Bundibugyo vaccines.

CEPI has backed candidates based on two viral vectors, the vesicular stomatitis virus used in an approved Zaire Ebola vaccine and the ChAdOx platform that underpinned AstraZeneca’s COVID-19 shot. Moderna has also received funding to apply its mRNA platform to the virus. The Minapharm investigational vaccine, the fifth Bundibugyo-specific candidate backed by CEPI, has a potential advantage over the other candidates.

Unlike the other candidates, the vaccine is designed to induce B- and T-cell responses for comprehensive and long-lasting immunity. With multiple Bundibugyo vaccines in development, CEPI has worked (PDF) to secure capacity to run phase 1 trials in Africa. The initiative reflects historical reliance on early-phase clinical trial sites outside of Africa, which CEPI said led to systemic deficits and reduced participation of research communities in the region.

ProBioGen CEPI Ebola Vaccine funding Biotech Deals