The scientists will spearhead the development of new vaccines that aim to provide comprehensive protection against multiple lethal filoviruses, including Ebola virus, Sudan virus, Bundibugyo virus, and Marburg virus.

Funding from CEPI and the European Union’s Horizon Europe programme

Backed by up to USD 26.7 million in funding from CEPI and the European Union’s Horizon Europe programme, researchers at the Oxford Vaccine Group and the Pandemic Sciences Institute, at the University of Oxford, with partners at the Institute for Drug Discovery at Leipzig University and Moderna will design and test multivalent vaccine candidates that aim to protect individuals from a wide range of filoviruses, including as-yet-unknown pathogens from the filovirus family that could emerge in the future.

Currently, there are two licensed vaccines which provide protection only for Ebola virus, but no vaccines are licensed for Sudan virus or Marburg virus – the causes of multiple and recent outbreaks in sub-Saharan Africa. This new programme will focus specifically on creating multivalent vaccines that protect against many of these viral hemorrhagic fevers, offering a way to proactively immunise those at risk.

“The first-ever outbreak of Marburg in Ethiopia is a stark reminder that filoviruses are among the world’s most menacing pathogens, capable of triggering devastating outbreaks and epidemics. A broadly protective filovirus vaccine could be transformative, protecting those most vulnerable to these viral threats and strengthening global health security against both known and emerging members of the filovirus family,” says Richard Hatchett, CEO of CEPI.

Preparing for future filovirus threats

This collaboration will help drive forward CEPI’s 100 Days Mission which aims to ensure the world can respond to future pandemic threats within 100 days of identifying a novel virus. 

The ChAdOx and mRNA vaccine technologies are ‘rapid response platforms’, designed for rapid adaptation and large-scale manufacturing, making them well suited for quickly responding to outbreaks and pandemics caused by newly emerging pathogens. 

In addition, the scientific insights and immunogen designs developed through this research will enhance CEPI’s ‘Disease X Vaccine Library’—a comprehensive resource of vaccine data and insights on high-risk viral families—giving scientists the tools they need to act swiftly if a new, unknown filovirus with pandemic potential, known as ‘Disease X’, arises.

Committing to equitable access

CEPI, the University of Oxford and consortium partners are committed to ensuring equitable access to the project’s outcomes, following CEPI’s Equitable Access Policy. The partnership agreement includes commitments to affordable pricing and sufficient supply for public health needs. Project results—including data—will be published open access for the benefit of the global scientific community.