US to provide $50M for Ebola coalition: State Department

The United States government has announced an additional $50 million in funding to support global efforts to combat the ongoing Bundibugyo ebolavirus outbreak, according to the State Department. This investment will be directed toward the Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations (CEPI) to accelerate Moderna's investigational vaccine. The funding will also support manufacturing and progression to later-stage trials, contingent on positive early data.

This announcement follows a broader international response to the outbreak, which has resulted in over 900 suspected cases and more than 220 suspected deaths in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. The U.S. contribution aligns with a larger $50 million commitment from Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance, which includes $40 million to accelerate vaccine access and $10 million for outbreak response and routine immunization support.

The U.S. funding is part of a coordinated global effort involving CEPI, the World Health Organization (WHO), and other partners to ensure rapid development and deployment of safe and effective vaccines. CEPI has also allocated additional funds to support two other vaccine candidates, including one developed by the University of Oxford and another by the International AIDS Vaccine Initiative.

The Pandemic Fund has separately announced up to $220.6 million in grants to address critical response gaps in the current outbreak. These combined efforts highlight the international community’s focus on strengthening preparedness and response mechanisms for emerging infectious diseases.