Ebola Outbreak in Democratic Republic of Congo Spurs Vaccine Development by Singapore's Hilleman Laboratories

The Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo has become the second‑largest ever recorded, with more than 3,500 confirmed cases and over 1,500 deaths across five provinces, including Ituri near the borders with South Sudan and Uganda. The epidemic is driven by the Bundibugyo strain, for which no approved vaccine or specific treatment exists, and the rapid spread is compounded by armed conflict that hampers contact tracing, isolation and delivery of health services.

In response, Hilleman Laboratories, a Singapore‑based consortium that includes U.S. drug maker MSD and the UK’s Wellcome Trust, announced the development of an rVSV‑Bundibugyo vaccine that the World Health Organization has called the most promising candidate. The vaccine platform builds on the approved Ervebo vaccine for the Zaire strain and aims for easier storage and lower cost. Clinical trials are slated to begin soon, with funding from the Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations (CEPI) to ensure rapid, affordable supply to affected and low‑income countries.