ASPR Supports Global Ebola Response While Strengthening U.S. Preparedness

Investigational therapeutics, vaccine development efforts, and preparedness investments strengthen response capabilities at home and abroad

WASHINGTON, D.C. (June 26, 2026) — The Administration for Strategic Preparedness and Response (ASPR), part of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), is supporting international efforts to respond to the ongoing Bundibugyo ebolavirus outbreak in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) and Uganda through the deployment of investigational medical countermeasures, advancement of vaccine and therapeutic development, and continued investments in domestic preparedness.

The current outbreak involves Bundibugyo ebolavirus, a species for which there are currently no FDA-approved vaccines or therapeutics. ASPR, through its Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority (BARDA), is leveraging longstanding public-private partnerships and global collaborations to help address immediate response needs while accelerating development of medical countermeasures that could improve future outbreak preparedness.

“As outbreaks emerge around the world, ASPR’s mission is to ensure the United States and our partners have the tools needed to respond rapidly and effectively,” said ASPR Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary John Knox. “Our investments in medical countermeasure development and preparedness are helping support the current response while building the foundation for future medical countermeasures and stronger preparedness against Ebola and other high-consequence infectious diseases.”

Supporting the Current Response

As part of a coordinated U.S. government effort, ASPR is supporting the transfer of investigational doses of MBP134, a monoclonal antibody therapeutic candidate developed through a partnership between BARDA and Mapp Biopharmaceutical, for compassionate use in the DRC and Uganda. ASPR is also supporting the transfer of doses to the University of Oxford for use in a randomized clinical trial evaluating the safety and potential efficacy of MBP134 against Bundibugyo ebolavirus.

MBP134 has demonstrated activity against multiple Ebola virus species in preclinical studies supported by the National Institutes of Health’s National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) and has completed a Phase 1 clinical safety trial. Data generated during the outbreak response may help inform future regulatory review and potential pathways toward licensure.

To support ongoing response efforts, BARDA has pre-positioned 2,500 rapid diagnostic tests (OraSure) through federal partners for potential deployment in Africa. The tests, which are used to screen deceased individuals for Ebola infection, can detect multiple Ebola virus species, including Bundibugyo ebolavirus, and help public health teams investigate suspected cases and guide outbreak control activities.

Accelerating Medical Countermeasure Development

In addition to supporting investigational therapeutics and pre-positioning diagnostic tests, BARDA is advancing vaccine development efforts specifically targeting Bundibugyo ebolavirus.

A recently released Request for Project Proposals through BARDA’s Rapid Response Partnership Vehicle Consortium seeks to accelerate the development and production of investigational Bundibugyo vaccine candidates. The effort will leverage the same vesicular stomatitis virus vaccine platform technology used in ERVEBO, the first FDA-licensed vaccine for Ebola virus disease caused by the Zaire ebolavirus strain.

The initiative aims to identify vaccine candidates for potential preclinical and clinical evaluation during the current outbreak while advancing longer-term Bundibugyo vaccine development. BARDA is also coordinating with global partners, including the Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations, to assess additional vaccine candidates and scientific data that may inform both the current response and future preparedness efforts.

Over the past decade, BARDA-supported partnerships have helped advance ERVEBO, as well as two FDA-approved therapeutics (Inmazeb and Ebanga) for Zaire ebolavirus and an FDA-cleared rapid antigen diagnostic test (OraQuick). These efforts are part of ASPR’s broader mission to strengthen national preparedness for high-consequence infectious diseases.  

Preparing the United States

While the risk to the American public remains low, ASPR continues to strengthen domestic preparedness through the National Special Pathogen System, a nationwide network designed to safely identify, transport, and care for patients with high-consequence infectious diseases.

ASPR’s Regional Emerging Special Pathogen Treatment Centers remain prepared to evaluate and treat patients if needed, while the National Emerging Special Pathogens Training and Education Center continues providing training, technical assistance, clinical guidance, and preparedness resources to healthcare facilities across the country.

Together, these capabilities help ensure the United States remains ready to respond to Ebola and other emerging infectious disease threats while supporting global efforts to contain outbreaks at their source.

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