In a historic move
In a historic move, Uganda’s Ministry of Health, the World Health Organization (WHO), and various partners have launched a pioneering vaccine trial to fight the Ebola virus from the Sudan species.
This is the first-ever clinical trial targeting the Sudan virus, marking a monumental step in the global effort to combat Ebola. The trial’s launch occurred at an unprecedented speed in response to an urgent outbreak.
Since the outbreak of the Sudan virus was confirmed on January 30, principal investigators from Makerere University and the Uganda Virus Research Institute (UVRI), along with WHO and other collaborators, have worked relentlessly to prepare the trial within just four days. The speed of the trial’s preparation reflects Uganda’s advanced research readiness and strict adherence to national and international regulatory and ethical guidelines.
This clinical trial is designed to assess the efficacy of a vaccine specifically developed to protect against the Sudan species of Ebola, an area of critical need. While vaccines exist for other species of the Ebola virus, including the Zaïre strain, no licensed vaccines are available for Sudan virus infections.
The candidate vaccine for the trial was generously provided by IAVI, with financial backing from WHO, the Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations (CEPI), Canada’s International Development Research Centre (IDRC), the European Commission’s Health Emergency Preparedness and Response Authority (HERA), and additional support from the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC).
Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, WHO’s Director-General, praised the achievement, stating, “This is a critical achievement towards better pandemic preparedness and saving lives when outbreaks occur. This success is made possible by the tireless efforts of Uganda’s health workers, the involvement of local communities, and the collaborative work of numerous partners, including IAVI, CEPI, the EU HERA, Canada’s IDRC, and the Africa CDC.”
The Ebola outbreak in Uganda in 2022 also contributed to the rapid development of this trial. During that period, a randomised protocol for testing candidate vaccines was developed. Principal investigators and research teams were trained under the leadership of Uganda’s Ministry of Health, ensuring that such trials could be implemented swiftly during future outbreaks.
The new vaccine trial was launched in Kampala on February 3, 2025. Dr Mike Ryan, Executive Director of WHO’s Health Emergencies Programme, and Dr Kasonde Mwinga, WHO’s representative in Uganda, are participating in the trial. In the first phase, approximately 40 individuals, including health workers, who have recently been exposed to confirmed Ebola cases, will be vaccinated.
Currently, there are no licensed treatments or vaccines for the Sudan species of the Ebola virus, making this trial even more crucial. The success of this vaccine could play a vital role in curbing future outbreaks, and if proven effective, it may be a step toward eventual licensure.
The randomised trial follows a design similar to the Ebola trial conducted in Guinea in 2015, which successfully tested a vaccine for a different Ebola strain. This ring vaccination approach targets individuals in direct contact with an infected person, offering them a protective buffer against further transmission.
This vaccine trial could yield invaluable data on how quickly and effectively the Sudan virus vaccine can protect those at high risk of infection. WHO continues to monitor the trial’s progress and work closely with national health authorities to ensure the vaccine’s safety and efficacy. It is committed to advancing global health preparedness.
Image: The new vaccine trial was launched in Kampala on February 3, 2025. Credit: Asite Edwin
