# CEPI Commits $16.5 Million to Move Egyptian Biotech’s Ebola Vaccine Into Clinical Trials

The Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations (CEPI) has committed up to $16.5 million to support Minapharm, an Egyptian biotechnology company, in advancing its Ebola vaccine candidate into clinical testing. The candidate targets the Bundibugyo strain of the Ebola virus, and the funding is part of CEPI’s response to a fast-growing Ebola outbreak. The goal is to push the vaccine into the clinic, where it can be evaluated for safety and efficacy.

Minapharm’s vaccine is designed to address a specific strain of Ebola that has caused outbreaks in Africa. CEPI’s investment will cover the costs of manufacturing, preclinical work, and early-stage human trials. The organization has been actively funding vaccine development against emerging infectious diseases, and this commitment is one of several steps taken to contain the current outbreak.

**Context:** Ebola viruses are zoonotic pathogens that can cause severe hemorrhagic fever in humans and nonhuman primates. The Bundibugyo strain, first identified in Uganda in 2007, has a higher fatality rate than some other strains. Developing a vaccine specific to this strain is important for pandemic preparedness and for protecting both human and animal populations that may serve as reservoirs. The life sciences industry continues to rely on public-private partnerships like CEPI to accelerate vaccine development during outbreaks.

Source: [original report](https://www.fiercebiotech.com/biotech/cepi-backs-push-bring-ebola-vaccine-clinic-curb-fast-growing-outbreak)