WHO Recommends Two New Ebola Vaccines for Trial
Two vaccine candidates, ChAdOx1 and mRNA-1469, have been advanced for evaluation in the Democratic Republic of the Congo's Bundibugyo virus outbreak response.
Updated on Nov. 4, 2026 in Diseases — General
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The World Health Organization's Technical Advisory Group on Candidate Vaccine Prioritisation recommended two Ebola vaccine candidates, ChAdOx1 and mRNA-1469, for evaluation in the Tumaini clinical trial. The recommendation was communicated to the vaccine developers on Monday.
Why it matters
The recommendation aims to strengthen efforts to contain the Democratic Republic of the Congo's Bundibugyo virus outbreak. The Tumaini trial uses a ring-vaccination approach that targets contacts of confirmed cases.
The recommendation covers two candidates, ChAdOx1 and mRNA-1469, with four vaccination rings already established in the DRC. Results from the Tumaini vaccine trial are not anticipated until early 2027, and initial findings from the PARTNERS treatment trial are expected only in the coming months.
The players
World Health Organization
The United Nations agency that coordinates international public health responses and convened its Technical Advisory Group on Candidate Vaccine Prioritisation to review the Ebola vaccine candidates.
Moderna
A U.S. biotechnology company known for its mRNA vaccine platform, which developed the mRNA-1469 Ebola vaccine candidate.
University of Oxford
The British university whose researchers developed the ChAdOx1 Ebola vaccine candidate in partnership with the Serum Institute of India.
Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations
An international partnership that funds and accelerates development of vaccines for emerging epidemic threats, and is supporting rapid development of these candidates.
The details
ChAdOx1 was developed by the University of Oxford with the Serum Institute of India, and mRNA-1469 was developed by Moderna. The Tumaini trial evaluates multiple candidates within a single study, following a ring-vaccination strategy pioneered during the West African Ebola outbreak about a decade ago.
Timeline
Monday (prior to publication): Vaccine developers informed of the WHO recommendation
July: PARTNERS treatment trial launched, evaluating MBP134, remdesivir, or both
Coming months: Initial PARTNERS treatment trial findings expected
Early 2027: Vaccine trial results anticipated
Health Landscape
The Tumaini trial extends the ring-vaccination strategy pioneered during the West African Ebola outbreak about a decade ago to a new Bundibugyo virus outbreak. It tests multiple candidate vaccines within a single study, a structure that reflects how global health responders now coordinate trials during emerging outbreaks.
For people in affected areas, the ring-vaccination approach means vaccination is offered to close contacts of confirmed cases rather than the general public. Trial participation depends on national approvals, and the vaccine candidates are not yet available outside the study.
The takeaway
Efforts to contain emerging outbreaks increasingly combine rapid trial design with existing response strategies, as the Tumaini trial does by building on the ring-vaccination approach from West Africa. Readers following the outbreak should watch for initial treatment trial results in the coming months.
What happens next
Initial findings from the PARTNERS treatment trial are expected in the coming months, and results from the Tumaini vaccine trial are anticipated in early 2027.
Further reading
For broader context on outbreak responses, explore Diseases — General coverage.
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