The first participant getting dosed in Moderna’s clinical trial for a new vaccine against Bundibugyo ebolavirus in Truro. Photo by Kelly Clark Photography /ModernaArticle contentThe first participants in Moderna’s new trial for an experimental vaccine got their dose in Truro this week, and a similar trial in Halifax will follow suit in the coming days.THIS CONTENT IS RESERVED FOR SUBSCRIBERS ONLY.Subscribe now to access this story and more:Unlimited access to the website and appExclusive access to premium content, newsletters and podcastsFull access to the e-Edition app, an electronic replica of the print edition that you can share, download and comment onEnjoy insights and behind-the-scenes analysis from our award-winning journalistsSupport local journalists and the next generation of journalistsSUBSCRIBE TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES.Subscribe or sign in to your account to continue your reading experience.Unlimited access to the website and appExclusive access to premium content, newsletters and podcastsFull access to the e-Edition app, an electronic replica of the print edition that you can share, download and comment onEnjoy insights and behind-the-scenes analysis from our award-winning journalistsSupport local journalists and the next generation of journalistsRegister to unlock more articles.Create an account or sign in to continue your reading experience.Access additional stories every monthShare your thoughts and join the conversation in our commenting communityGet email updates from your favourite authorsSign In or Create an AccountorArticle contentThis launches the company’s efforts against the current Ebola outbreak.Article contentArticle contentThey are testing mRNA-1469, an experimental vaccine currently under study to prevent Bundibugyo virus disease (BVD), caused by Bundibugyo ebolavirus (BDBV). Article contentArticle contentAccording to Moderna, the trial vaccine builds on its previous research into filoviruses, like Ebola, as well as making use of the mRNA platform, the same platform used for the development of the COVID-19 vaccine.Article content“Vaccinating the first participants with mRNA-1469 marks an important milestone in advancing a vaccine candidate against Bundibugyo ebolavirus, for which no approved vaccine currently exists,” Stéphane Bancel, chief executive officer of Moderna, said in a news release Tuesday. Article contentThe trial is being conducted in partnership with the Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations (CEPI), a global health partnership aimed at supporting accelerated development of vaccines against emerging epidemics, which has committed to supporting the preclinical testing and the first phase of the trial up to $50 million USD. Article contentWhy here?Article contentThe first phase of the study, authorized by Health Canada on July 30, will have healthy adult participants enrolled at three different sites, all within Canada: in Toronto, Truro and Halifax. Article contentArticle contentHamilton Bennett, Moderna’s executive director of global health security and research and development partnerships, said the company chose Canada for the initial study because of established relationships with Canadian researchers and the country’s track record working with themArticle contentAccording to Health Canada’s clinical trial registry, the trial sites in Nova Scotia are the Canadian Centre for Vaccinology in Halifax and the Colchester Research Group in Truro.Article contentBennett said that “the two Nova Scotia sites were selected based on relevant investigator expertise, clinical trial experience, operational readiness, participant recruitment capacity, and ability to begin the study within the required timelines.” Article contentCanada is the second country moving forward with the first phase of a clinical trial looking at a potential Bundibugyo virus vaccine, behind only the United Kingdom.Article contentGetting startedArticle contentAccording to Bennet, the first phase is to determine if the vaccine is safe, establish dosage and to identify side effects if they do appear. The approximately 80 healthy adult participants will be followed for 12 months, with results expected in fall 2026.
Moderna vaccine trial aimed at international Ebola outbreak begins in Nova Scotia
