Cairo, Egypt — August 27, 2026: The Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations (CEPI) has committed up to US$16.5 million to support the development of an investigational vaccine against Bundibugyo ebolavirus, with Egypt-based biopharmaceutical company Minapharm Group leading the programme.

The funding will support the vaccine candidate through preclinical development and into a Phase 1 clinical trial, which will evaluate its safety and ability to generate an immune response. The early-stage human trial is expected to be conducted in Africa.

The initiative comes as the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) faces a major Bundibugyo ebolavirus outbreak, described by CEPI as the fastest-growing and second-largest Ebola outbreak recorded to date.

Vaccine built on proprietary MVA technology

Minapharm's vaccine candidate was developed by ProBioGen, a Berlin-based biotechnology company within the Minapharm Group. The candidate uses ProBioGen's proprietary modified vaccinia Ankara (MVA) MVA-CR19 platform, a technology related to platforms used in licensed smallpox and mpox vaccines.

According to CEPI, the candidate is designed to stimulate both B-cell and T-cell immune responses, potentially providing broader and longer-lasting protection against Bundibugyo ebolavirus.

The programme represents CEPI's fifth Bundibugyo-specific vaccine candidate supported as part of its response to the outbreak. CEPI is pursuing multiple vaccine technologies to increase the likelihood of identifying safe and effective vaccines capable of controlling the current epidemic and strengthening preparedness for future outbreaks.

Strengthening African vaccine manufacturing capacity

Beyond vaccine development, the programme is intended to strengthen Africa's capacity to develop and manufacture vaccines locally.

Under the project, ProBioGen will initially produce the recombinant MVA drug substance under Good Manufacturing Practice (GMP) standards. The material will then be transferred to Minapharm's manufacturing facility in Cairo, where it will be formulated into the finished vaccine product.

Minapharm also plans to transfer drug-substance manufacturing to its biotechnology facilities in Egypt. If successful, this could enable end-to-end local manufacturing of the vaccine, from drug substance production through to the finished drug product.

The initiative therefore represents not only a response to an immediate public-health emergency but also a potential step toward greater African vaccine sovereignty and biopharmaceutical manufacturing capacity.

Path toward emergency use and licensure

CEPI's broader objective is to advance at least two Bundibugyo vaccines toward Emergency Use Authorisation and World Health Organization (WHO) Prequalification, while simultaneously strengthening preparedness for future outbreaks.

If the Phase 1 study demonstrates an acceptable safety profile and promising immunogenicity, CEPI expects to explore support for subsequent clinical trials designed to generate efficacy data required for potential emergency use authorisation and licensure.

The organisations have also committed to working toward rapid and affordable vaccine supply for affected populations should the candidate ultimately demonstrate that it is safe and effective.

Dr Richard Hatchett, CEO of CEPI, said the partnership demonstrates the growing potential of African-led innovation to address emerging infectious disease threats. He noted that advancing Minapharm's proprietary MVA platform could also provide a foundation for future African-manufactured vaccines against filoviruses.

Minapharm Group Chairman and CEO Dr Wafik Bardissi described the programme as an example of the company's ability to combine vaccine research, biotechnology and manufacturing capabilities across Africa and Europe.

Africa CDC Director General Dr Jean Kaseya welcomed the initiative, emphasising that an African company advancing a vaccine candidate against an outbreak affecting the continent represents an important step toward strengthening Africa's ability to develop and manufacture its own health technologies.

The project builds on more than 25 years of Minapharm's experience in the development, manufacturing and commercialisation of complex biologic medicines in Africa.

The funding is supported through CEPI's existing financing, including contributions from the European Commission through Horizon Europe and the U.S. Department of State.