Oxford Vaccine Group: ChAdOx1-BDBV Vaccine 6–9 Months From First Human Trials

The Oxford University Jenner Institute released a formal statement on May 22, 2026 confirming that its ChAdOx1 BDBV (Bundibugyo ebolavirus) vaccine candidate was advancing through preclinical development, with the team estimating 6 to 9 months before sufficient doses could be manufactured for Phase 1 human safety trials. Oxford confirmed that immunogenicity studies in non-human primates showed promising T-cell and antibody responses against the BDBV glycoprotein, but that manufacturing scale-up for human trials required time the active outbreak did not allow. The Oxford statement was issued in response to public and media pressure following the PHEIC declaration. CEPI, which had committed $45 million to BDBV vaccine acceleration in April 2026, confirmed it was co-funding both the Oxford ChAdOx1 BDBV platform and the MVA-BN-Filo BDBV formulation developed by Bavarian Nordic, which was being deployed on compassionate-use grounds in the current outbreak. NBC News reported that no approved Bundibugyo vaccine existed and that off-label rVSV-ZEBOV (approved for Zaire ebolavirus only) was the only available ring vaccination tool.