India’s vaccine manufacturing capabilities are set to play a crucial role in the global fight against Ebola, as the Serum Institute of India (SII) prepares to manufacture clinical trial doses of an experimental Ebola vaccine developed by the University of Oxford. The initiative has received fresh financial support from the Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations (CEPI), which has committed up to US$8.6 million to accelerate the vaccine’s development and testing.
The funding comes at a critical time as health authorities work to contain an outbreak of the Bundibugyo strain of the Ebola virus in parts of Africa, particularly the Democratic Republic of the Congo and neighboring Uganda. Unlike the more widely studied Zaire strain of Ebola, there are currently no approved vaccines or treatments available for the Bundibugyo variant, making the development of an effective vaccine an urgent global health priority.
Under the partnership, CEPI’s funding will support preclinical research, early-stage development activities, and preparations for Phase 1 clinical trials. The investment will also help create a Master Virus Seed stock and enable the production of clinical-grade vaccine doses at SII’s manufacturing facilities in Pune. These steps are essential for advancing the vaccine candidate toward human testing and eventual large-scale deployment if proven safe and effective.
The vaccine candidate is based on Oxford University’s ChAdOx1 platform, the same technology that formed the foundation of the Oxford-AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine. The platform has already demonstrated its effectiveness in responding to infectious disease outbreaks and is regarded as one of the most reliable vaccine technologies developed in recent years. Researchers believe that leveraging this proven platform could significantly accelerate the development timeline for the Ebola vaccine.
CEPI’s support for the Oxford-SII collaboration forms part of a broader international effort exceeding US$60 million to fast-track multiple vaccine candidates targeting the Bundibugyo Ebola virus. The organization has selected three promising vaccine projects that utilize different technologies, increasing the likelihood of identifying a safe and effective solution to combat the outbreak.
Speaking about the initiative, SII Chief Executive Officer Adar Poonawalla emphasized the importance of speed, scale, and accessibility in responding to public health emergencies. He noted that the company would utilize its extensive manufacturing expertise to rapidly advance the vaccine candidate while supporting affordable access for affected countries if the vaccine succeeds in clinical trials.
The collaboration also highlights the long-standing partnership between the University of Oxford and the Serum Institute of India. During the COVID-19 pandemic, SII emerged as one of the world’s largest manufacturers of the Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine, supplying billions of doses globally. The new Ebola vaccine project builds on that successful relationship and demonstrates how established partnerships can be mobilized to address emerging health threats.
Global health experts view the initiative as an important step toward strengthening epidemic preparedness. By combining Oxford’s research expertise, CEPI’s funding support, and SII’s manufacturing scale, the partnership aims to accelerate vaccine availability and improve the world’s ability to respond to future outbreaks. As efforts continue to combat the ongoing Ebola epidemic, the project underscores the growing importance of international collaboration in safeguarding public health and advancing equitable access to life-saving vaccines.
