WHO and DRC officials are engaged in expedited discussions to initiate a multi-armed Phase 3 clinical trial of vaccines intended to help contain the spread of the **Bundibugyo virus** in northeastern Democratic Republic of the Congo. The talks, led by national health authorities and the **World Health Organization**, focus on enabling simultaneous evaluation of several vaccine candidates under a single protocol to determine efficacy and safety in the affected population.
Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, Director-General of the **World Health Organization**, told reporters in Geneva that the current outbreak is already the second-largest Ebola epidemic on record and is advancing more rapidly than previous episodes. “It’s already the second-biggest Ebola epidemic on record, and it’s moving faster than any previous Ebola outbreak. At its current pace, it’s on track to eclipse the West African Ebola outbreak of 2014-2016,” he said, underscoring the urgency behind accelerating clinical and public health responses.
Officials involved in the negotiations have prioritized regulatory approvals, trial protocol finalization, community engagement and logistics necessary for a rapid start. Multi-armed Phase 3 designs allow comparison of multiple vaccine candidates against a common control or comparator, which can increase efficiency in assessing which product or products meet licensure standards. The discussions also address oversight mechanisms to ensure adherence to international ethical and safety standards during participant enrollment and follow-up.
Public health authorities and the **World Health Organization** emphasize that any trial launch will be accompanied by strengthened surveillance, case management and infection prevention measures in affected areas. If successfully implemented, the trial could accelerate generation of robust evidence needed to support emergency use or broader authorization of effective vaccines against **Bundibugyo virus**. Authorities say that decisions on trial commencement will follow completion of required approvals and arrangements for participant protection and monitoring.
