{"success":true,"data":{"pressRelease":{"id":"129198","rtpr_id":"nPre2KqSfa","ticker":"MIPH","exchange":"","all_tickers":["MIPH"],"title":"African Bundibugyo ebolavirus vaccine candidate to be advanced to clinical trials","author":"PR Newswire","published_at":"2026-08-27T11:32:50.309Z","article_body":"African Bundibugyo ebolavirus vaccine candidate to be advanced to clinical\ntrials\nPR Newswire\n\nOSLO, Norway, CAIRO and BERLIN, Aug. 27, 2026\n\nCEPI backs Minapharm's Bundibugyo ebolavirus vaccine candidate, based on\nProBioGen's proprietary MVA-CR19 platform\n\nOSLO, Norway, CAIRO and BERLIN, Aug. 27, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Leading African\nbiopharmaceutical company Minapharm Group, headquartered in Egypt with\nsubsidiaries in Berlin, will receive up to US$16.5 million from the Coalition\nfor Epidemic Preparedness Innovations (CEPI) to advance the development of a\nBundibugyo ebolavirus vaccine candidate, strengthening efforts to develop\nvaccines to combat the fastest-growing and second-largest Ebola outbreak on\nrecord affecting the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC).\n\nMinapharm's Bundibugyo vaccine is designed by ProBioGen, a Berlin-based\nspecialist within Minapharm Group, based on their proprietary modified\nvaccinia Ankara (MVA) vaccine platform, MVA-CR19. A similar technology\nunderpins a licensed vaccine against smallpox and mpox, and has elicited\nlong-term immunity in a vaccine targeting the related Zaire ebolavirus\n(https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC11372064/).\n\nCEPI's funding will advance the Bundibugyo vaccine candidate through\npreclinical development and into an early-stage clinical trial to assess the\nimmunogenicity and safety of the vaccine candidate. The study in humans, known\nas a Phase 1 trial, is expected to take place in Africa.\n\nMinapharm's investigational vaccine becomes the fifth Bundibugyo-specific\nvirus vaccine candidate supported by CEPI in response to the escalating\nepidemic. It joins a portfolio of promising CEPI-backed candidates* built on\ndifferent vaccine technologies to maximise the likelihood of developing a safe\nand effective shot that could help bring this devastating crisis under\ncontrol.\n\nIt is the only Bundibugyo vaccine candidate CEPI is funding that is designed\nto induce both B- and T-cell responses for comprehensive and long-lasting\nimmunity.\n\n\"CEPI's funding to Minapharm harnesses the growing strength of African-led\ninnovation to help confront this increasingly severe outbreak and prepare for\nfuture threats\", said Dr Richard Hatchett, CEO of CEPI.  \"In just three\nmonths, cases of Bundibugyo have spread rapidly across the DRC, making this\nthe largest and deadliest outbreak the country has ever faced. We are proud to\nsupport Minapharm's Bundibugyo vaccine candidate: it will round out CEPI's\nportfolio, give the world another shot on goal, and advance Minapharm's\nproprietary MVA platform, which if successful can serve as the basis for\nfuture African-manufactured filovirus vaccines. The faster we can advance a\npipeline of promising candidates, the better our chances of saving lives and\nbringing this epidemic under control.\"\n\nCEPI's goal is to bring at least two Bundibugyo vaccines to Emergency Use\nAuthorisation and WHO Prequalification to respond to this outbreak, while also\nbuilding readiness for future Bundibugyo epidemics.\n\nDr. Wafik Bardissi, Group Chairman and CEO of Minapharm and Chairman of\nProBioGen, said: \"For more than 25 years, Minapharm has built proven biologics\ncapabilities in Egypt and, together with ProBioGen, established a\ncross-continental group model combining scientific innovation, proprietary\ntechnologies and advanced biomanufacturing.\"\n\nDr. Bardissi added: \"This programme demonstrates the strength of our\ncapabilities across the full biologics continuum, from design and development\nthrough to manufacturing, in response to an urgent public-health threat. With\nCEPI's support, we are turning scientific ingenuity into health sovereignty,\ndrawing on the breadth of our technologies and know-how to advance a vaccine\nresponse for Africa.\"\n\n\"ProBioGen's MVA-CR19 platform was developed to enable rapid generation of\nrecombinant MVA vaccine candidates and scalable manufacturing,\" said Dr Volker\nSandig, Chief Scientific Officer of ProBioGen. \"We are proud to bring this\nplatform and our CMC expertise to a Minapharm-led programme supported by CEPI,\nhelping advance a Bundibugyo ebolavirus vaccine candidate towards clinical\nevaluation in response to an urgent public-health need.\"\n\nDr Jean Kaseya, Director General, Africa CDC, said, \"Bundibugyo virus is now\ndriving the largest Ebola outbreak DRC has ever faced. A vaccine candidate\nadvanced by an African company is exactly the kind of capability our continent\nneeds - not just for this outbreak, but so that Africa can develop and\nmanufacture the tools it needs to protect its own people. We welcome CEPI's\nsupport for Minapharm's work as a concrete step toward that health\nsovereignty.\"\n\nTo develop the Bundibugyo-specific vaccine candidate, ProBioGen —a\nwholly-owned subsidiary of Minapharm based in Germany—will generate the\nrecombinant MVA drug substance under Good Manufacturing Practice (GMP)\nguidelines. The drug substance is the active component of a vaccine which\nincludes viral proteins that could train the immune system to recognise and\nfight a specific pathogen – in this case, Bundibugyo ebolavirus.  The drug\nsubstance will then be shipped to Minapharm's facility in Cairo, Egypt, to\ncreate the drug product – the finished vaccine mixture which combines the\ndrug substance with other vaccine ingredients and packaging ready for\ntesting. In parallel, Minapharm plans to transfer drug substance\nmanufacturing to its biotechnology facilities in Cairo, enabling fully local\ndrug substance and drug product manufacturing.\n\nThe project leverages more than 25 years of Minapharm's proven track record\nand experience in the development, end-to-end manufacturing and\ncommercialisation of complex biologics in Africa.\n\nIf the Phase 1 trial of the vaccine candidate is successful, CEPI anticipates\nworking with Minapharm and ProBioGen to support late-stage trials to generate\nefficacy data for emergency use authorisation and licensure. CEPI, Minapharm\nand ProBioGen are committed to enabling rapid, affordable supply of the\nvaccine to affected countries and to the populations that need them should it\nprove safe and effective.\n\nA positive outcome from this project could also lay the foundation for the\nfuture expansion of Minapharm's vaccine manufacturing capabilities,\npotentially with support from CEPI and other partners.\n\nTo date, CEPI's Bundibugyo virus vaccine development programme receives funds\nfrom the European Commission through its 2026 grant under Horizon Europe to\nCEPI, the U.S. Department of State and CEPI's existing core funding.\n\nNotes to Editors\n\nCEPI's funding was awarded to Minapharm for its Bundibugyo vaccine project\nfollowing its application to CEPI's Call for Proposals\n(https://cepi.net/calls-for-proposals?selectedProposal=1779) seeking vaccine\ndevelopers to advance the development of Bundibugyo vaccine candidates.\n\nMVA-C19 platform\n\nMVA-CR19\n(https://www.probiogen.de/technologies-for-viral-vectors-vaccines/mva-vector-platform)\nis ProBioGen's proprietary modified vaccinia Ankara (MVA) vaccine platform.\nMVA is a highly attenuated poxvirus vector that is replication-deficient in\nhuman cells: it can enter cells and express the vaccine antigens it carries,\nbut cannot multiply or spread. ProBioGen's platform combines the MVA-CR19\nstrain with its AGE1 production cell line platform and TetherexX™\nrecombination technology to support rapid recombinant MVA generation and\nscalable manufacturing.\n\nThe MVA platform holds potential as it has a well-established safety profile\nin people\n(https://www.who.int/news/item/13-09-2024-who-prequalifies-the-first-vaccine-against-mpox).\nAlongside studies demonstrating long-lasting immunity in people vaccinated\nwith MVA-based mpox and Zaire ebolavirus vaccines, positive data has also been\nobtained in preclinical studies of MVA vaccines targeting Sudan ebolavirus\n(https://researchexperts.utmb.edu/en/publications/a-single-immunization-with-a-modified-vaccinia-ankara-vectored-va/),\nMarburg virus (https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/39771978/) and other infectious\ndiseases. The technology was also safe for use in immunosuppressed individuals\nand people living with HIV\n(https://www.who.int/news-room/questions-and-answers/item/mpox-vaccines)\nvaccinated with MVA-based vaccines targeting other diseases.\n\nCEPI's response to the Bundibugyo ebolavirus outbreak\n\n*CEPI has worked around the clock with its partners to respond to the\nBundibugyo outbreak, announcing its first Bundibugyo vaccine development\npartnerships just two weeks after the declaration of the outbreak in mid-May.\nCEPI has to date already invested in Bundibugyo vaccines being developed using\nmRNA (Moderna), ChAdOx (the University of Oxford/ Serum Institute of India)\nand rVSV (IAVI with manufacturing by Hilleman Laboratories, and Public Health\nVaccines) technologies. \n\nTo accelerate outbreak response efforts, CEPI has also activated its global\nnetworks of laboratories, manufacturers and clinical trial partners, is\nsupporting a clinical trial to evaluate potential treatments and engaging\nregulators to align on vaccine approval pathways. In parallel, CEPI is\nworking with partners including affected countries, Gavi, Africa CDC, WHO,\nUNICEF, the World Bank and development finance institutions so the downstream\nconditions needed to enable equitable access—including procurement,\nallocation and deployment—are put in place.\n\nAbout CEPI\n\nCEPI is an innovative partnership between public,\nprivate, philanthropic and civil organisations. Its mission is to\naccelerate the development of vaccines and other biologic countermeasures\nagainst epidemic and pandemic threats so they can be accessible to all people\nin need. Central to CEPI's pandemic-beating plan is the '100 Days\nMission' to develop safe, effective and accessible vaccines against new\nthreats in just 100 days. CEPI is seeking $2.5 billion to\nexecute CEPI 3.0, its 2027-2031 strategy which will systematically\nreduce the likelihood, impact and cost of epidemics and pandemics by driving\nthe 100 Days Mission towards an operational reality. Learn more at CEPI.net\n(http://www.cepi.net/).\n\nAbout Minapharm\n\nMinapharm is a leading pharmaceutical company in Egypt and the Middle East and\nthe largest biopharmaceutical company in Africa, with over 25 years of\nexperience in cellular and bioprocess engineering. Headquartered in Cairo, the\nGroup develops, manufactures and commercializes a broad portfolio spanning\ncomplex small molecules, recombinant proteins, and monoclonal antibodies,\nsupported by an extensive pipeline of genetically engineered medicines and\ncell and gene therapies. Minapharm operates seven manufacturing facilities and\ncommercializes more than 100 life-saving and life-enhancing products. Its two\nbiotechnology facilities in Cairo are the region's longest-established\nend-to-end drug substance and drug product operations, from cell line to\nfinished vial. Together with its wholly owned Berlin-based subsidiary,\nProBioGen AG, Minapharm has built an integrated biopharmaceutical model\nspanning research, proprietary technology, development and manufacturing.\nThrough its subsidiary, ProBioGen, the Group is a global provider of\nproprietary technologies for vaccines, complex proteins, and cell and gene\ntherapies, which have contributed to multiple FDA-approved products. Minapharm\nemploys a combined workforce of more than 1,700 people and is listed on the\nEgyptian Exchange (EGX: MIPH). Learn more at minapharm.com\n(https://nam11.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.minapharm.com%2F&data=05%7C02%7CIOHubs%40prnewswire.com%7Cb7816c0aa4bd4591d84d08df042011df%7C887bf9ee3c824b88bcb280d5e169b99b%7C1%7C0%7C639234207943616372%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJFbXB0eU1hcGkiOnRydWUsIlYiOiIwLjAuMDAwMCIsIlAiOiJXaW4zMiIsIkFOIjoiTWFpbCIsIldUIjoyfQ%3D%3D%7C0%7C%7C%7C&sdata=2V2R2Yv%2FmdtdNG%2BkNyKSyn8vQJx8lNKoIUhvuHk2d%2FU%3D&reserved=0) \n\nAbout ProBioGen\n\nProBioGen (http://www.probiogen.de/) is a Berlin-based expert in the\ndevelopment and manufacturing of biopharmaceuticals, viral vectors, and\nvaccines, powered by proprietary technologies that enhance product quality and\nfeatures. It has developed multiple innovative vaccine platforms, including\nLenti.RiGHT®,\n(https://www.probiogen.de/technologies-for-viral-vectors-vaccines/lentiviral-production-system)\nAGE1 host cell lines and the IP-protected MVA-CR19\n(https://www.probiogen.de/technologies-for-viral-vectors-vaccines/mva-vector-platform)\nstrain, which has a unique genomic signature. Operating for over 30 years,\nProBioGen runs three manufacturing lines in Berlin, where 300 employees\ncontribute to advancing next-generation therapies and global biotech\ninnovation. For more information about ProBioGen (https://www.probiogen.de/),\nfollow us on LinkedIn (https://www.linkedin.com/company/probiogen-ag).\n\nPhoto - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/3008898/Minapharm_CEPI.jpg\n\n \n\nView original\ncontent:https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/african-bundibugyo-ebolavirus-vaccine-candidate-to-be-advanced-to-clinical-trials-302861775.html\n\n\n\nCEPI Media Contact: CEPI Press Office, press@cepi.net. | Minapharm Press Contact: Christina Azmy, cazmy@minapharm.com. | ProBioGen Press Contact: Sarah Wandrey, press@probiogen.de\n\nPhoto: \nhttps://mma.prnewswire.com/media/3008898/Minapharm_CEPI.jpg\n\nCopyright (c) 2026 PR Newswire Association,LLC. All Rights Reserved.","article_body_html":"","raw_payload":{"data":{"id":"nPre2KqSfa","title":"African Bundibugyo ebolavirus vaccine candidate to be advanced to clinical trials","author":"PR Newswire","ticker":"MIPH","created":"2026-08-27T11:32:50.309Z","tickers":["MIPH"],"exchange":"","article_body":"African Bundibugyo ebolavirus vaccine candidate to be advanced to clinical\ntrials\nPR Newswire\n\nOSLO, Norway, CAIRO and BERLIN, Aug. 27, 2026\n\nCEPI backs Minapharm's Bundibugyo ebolavirus vaccine candidate, based on\nProBioGen's proprietary MVA-CR19 platform\n\nOSLO, Norway, CAIRO and BERLIN, Aug. 27, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Leading African\nbiopharmaceutical company Minapharm Group, headquartered in Egypt with\nsubsidiaries in Berlin, will receive up to US$16.5 million from the Coalition\nfor Epidemic Preparedness Innovations (CEPI) to advance the development of a\nBundibugyo ebolavirus vaccine candidate, strengthening efforts to develop\nvaccines to combat the fastest-growing and second-largest Ebola outbreak on\nrecord affecting the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC).\n\nMinapharm's Bundibugyo vaccine is designed by ProBioGen, a Berlin-based\nspecialist within Minapharm Group, based on their proprietary modified\nvaccinia Ankara (MVA) vaccine platform, MVA-CR19. A similar technology\nunderpins a licensed vaccine against smallpox and mpox, and has elicited\nlong-term immunity in a vaccine targeting the related Zaire ebolavirus\n(https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC11372064/).\n\nCEPI's funding will advance the Bundibugyo vaccine candidate through\npreclinical development and into an early-stage clinical trial to assess the\nimmunogenicity and safety of the vaccine candidate. The study in humans, known\nas a Phase 1 trial, is expected to take place in Africa.\n\nMinapharm's investigational vaccine becomes the fifth Bundibugyo-specific\nvirus vaccine candidate supported by CEPI in response to the escalating\nepidemic. It joins a portfolio of promising CEPI-backed candidates* built on\ndifferent vaccine technologies to maximise the likelihood of developing a safe\nand effective shot that could help bring this devastating crisis under\ncontrol.\n\nIt is the only Bundibugyo vaccine candidate CEPI is funding that is designed\nto induce both B- and T-cell responses for comprehensive and long-lasting\nimmunity.\n\n\"CEPI's funding to Minapharm harnesses the growing strength of African-led\ninnovation to help confront this increasingly severe outbreak and prepare for\nfuture threats\", said Dr Richard Hatchett, CEO of CEPI.  \"In just three\nmonths, cases of Bundibugyo have spread rapidly across the DRC, making this\nthe largest and deadliest outbreak the country has ever faced. We are proud to\nsupport Minapharm's Bundibugyo vaccine candidate: it will round out CEPI's\nportfolio, give the world another shot on goal, and advance Minapharm's\nproprietary MVA platform, which if successful can serve as the basis for\nfuture African-manufactured filovirus vaccines. The faster we can advance a\npipeline of promising candidates, the better our chances of saving lives and\nbringing this epidemic under control.\"\n\nCEPI's goal is to bring at least two Bundibugyo vaccines to Emergency Use\nAuthorisation and WHO Prequalification to respond to this outbreak, while also\nbuilding readiness for future Bundibugyo epidemics.\n\nDr. Wafik Bardissi, Group Chairman and CEO of Minapharm and Chairman of\nProBioGen, said: \"For more than 25 years, Minapharm has built proven biologics\ncapabilities in Egypt and, together with ProBioGen, established a\ncross-continental group model combining scientific innovation, proprietary\ntechnologies and advanced biomanufacturing.\"\n\nDr. Bardissi added: \"This programme demonstrates the strength of our\ncapabilities across the full biologics continuum, from design and development\nthrough to manufacturing, in response to an urgent public-health threat. With\nCEPI's support, we are turning scientific ingenuity into health sovereignty,\ndrawing on the breadth of our technologies and know-how to advance a vaccine\nresponse for Africa.\"\n\n\"ProBioGen's MVA-CR19 platform was developed to enable rapid generation of\nrecombinant MVA vaccine candidates and scalable manufacturing,\" said Dr Volker\nSandig, Chief Scientific Officer of ProBioGen. \"We are proud to bring this\nplatform and our CMC expertise to a Minapharm-led programme supported by CEPI,\nhelping advance a Bundibugyo ebolavirus vaccine candidate towards clinical\nevaluation in response to an urgent public-health need.\"\n\nDr Jean Kaseya, Director General, Africa CDC, said, \"Bundibugyo virus is now\ndriving the largest Ebola outbreak DRC has ever faced. A vaccine candidate\nadvanced by an African company is exactly the kind of capability our continent\nneeds - not just for this outbreak, but so that Africa can develop and\nmanufacture the tools it needs to protect its own people. We welcome CEPI's\nsupport for Minapharm's work as a concrete step toward that health\nsovereignty.\"\n\nTo develop the Bundibugyo-specific vaccine candidate, ProBioGen —a\nwholly-owned subsidiary of Minapharm based in Germany—will generate the\nrecombinant MVA drug substance under Good Manufacturing Practice (GMP)\nguidelines. The drug substance is the active component of a vaccine which\nincludes viral proteins that could train the immune system to recognise and\nfight a specific pathogen – in this case, Bundibugyo ebolavirus.  The drug\nsubstance will then be shipped to Minapharm's facility in Cairo, Egypt, to\ncreate the drug product – the finished vaccine mixture which combines the\ndrug substance with other vaccine ingredients and packaging ready for\ntesting. In parallel, Minapharm plans to transfer drug substance\nmanufacturing to its biotechnology facilities in Cairo, enabling fully local\ndrug substance and drug product manufacturing.\n\nThe project leverages more than 25 years of Minapharm's proven track record\nand experience in the development, end-to-end manufacturing and\ncommercialisation of complex biologics in Africa.\n\nIf the Phase 1 trial of the vaccine candidate is successful, CEPI anticipates\nworking with Minapharm and ProBioGen to support late-stage trials to generate\nefficacy data for emergency use authorisation and licensure. CEPI, Minapharm\nand ProBioGen are committed to enabling rapid, affordable supply of the\nvaccine to affected countries and to the populations that need them should it\nprove safe and effective.\n\nA positive outcome from this project could also lay the foundation for the\nfuture expansion of Minapharm's vaccine manufacturing capabilities,\npotentially with support from CEPI and other partners.\n\nTo date, CEPI's Bundibugyo virus vaccine development programme receives funds\nfrom the European Commission through its 2026 grant under Horizon Europe to\nCEPI, the U.S. Department of State and CEPI's existing core funding.\n\nNotes to Editors\n\nCEPI's funding was awarded to Minapharm for its Bundibugyo vaccine project\nfollowing its application to CEPI's Call for Proposals\n(https://cepi.net/calls-for-proposals?selectedProposal=1779) seeking vaccine\ndevelopers to advance the development of Bundibugyo vaccine candidates.\n\nMVA-C19 platform\n\nMVA-CR19\n(https://www.probiogen.de/technologies-for-viral-vectors-vaccines/mva-vector-platform)\nis ProBioGen's proprietary modified vaccinia Ankara (MVA) vaccine platform.\nMVA is a highly attenuated poxvirus vector that is replication-deficient in\nhuman cells: it can enter cells and express the vaccine antigens it carries,\nbut cannot multiply or spread. ProBioGen's platform combines the MVA-CR19\nstrain with its AGE1 production cell line platform and TetherexX™\nrecombination technology to support rapid recombinant MVA generation and\nscalable manufacturing.\n\nThe MVA platform holds potential as it has a well-established safety profile\nin people\n(https://www.who.int/news/item/13-09-2024-who-prequalifies-the-first-vaccine-against-mpox).\nAlongside studies demonstrating long-lasting immunity in people vaccinated\nwith MVA-based mpox and Zaire ebolavirus vaccines, positive data has also been\nobtained in preclinical studies of MVA vaccines targeting Sudan ebolavirus\n(https://researchexperts.utmb.edu/en/publications/a-single-immunization-with-a-modified-vaccinia-ankara-vectored-va/),\nMarburg virus (https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/39771978/) and other infectious\ndiseases. The technology was also safe for use in immunosuppressed individuals\nand people living with HIV\n(https://www.who.int/news-room/questions-and-answers/item/mpox-vaccines)\nvaccinated with MVA-based vaccines targeting other diseases.\n\nCEPI's response to the Bundibugyo ebolavirus outbreak\n\n*CEPI has worked around the clock with its partners to respond to the\nBundibugyo outbreak, announcing its first Bundibugyo vaccine development\npartnerships just two weeks after the declaration of the outbreak in mid-May.\nCEPI has to date already invested in Bundibugyo vaccines being developed using\nmRNA (Moderna), ChAdOx (the University of Oxford/ Serum Institute of India)\nand rVSV (IAVI with manufacturing by Hilleman Laboratories, and Public Health\nVaccines) technologies. \n\nTo accelerate outbreak response efforts, CEPI has also activated its global\nnetworks of laboratories, manufacturers and clinical trial partners, is\nsupporting a clinical trial to evaluate potential treatments and engaging\nregulators to align on vaccine approval pathways. In parallel, CEPI is\nworking with partners including affected countries, Gavi, Africa CDC, WHO,\nUNICEF, the World Bank and development finance institutions so the downstream\nconditions needed to enable equitable access—including procurement,\nallocation and deployment—are put in place.\n\nAbout CEPI\n\nCEPI is an innovative partnership between public,\nprivate, philanthropic and civil organisations. Its mission is to\naccelerate the development of vaccines and other biologic countermeasures\nagainst epidemic and pandemic threats so they can be accessible to all people\nin need. Central to CEPI's pandemic-beating plan is the '100 Days\nMission' to develop safe, effective and accessible vaccines against new\nthreats in just 100 days. CEPI is seeking $2.5 billion to\nexecute CEPI 3.0, its 2027-2031 strategy which will systematically\nreduce the likelihood, impact and cost of epidemics and pandemics by driving\nthe 100 Days Mission towards an operational reality. Learn more at CEPI.net\n(http://www.cepi.net/).\n\nAbout Minapharm\n\nMinapharm is a leading pharmaceutical company in Egypt and the Middle East and\nthe largest biopharmaceutical company in Africa, with over 25 years of\nexperience in cellular and bioprocess engineering. Headquartered in Cairo, the\nGroup develops, manufactures and commercializes a broad portfolio spanning\ncomplex small molecules, recombinant proteins, and monoclonal antibodies,\nsupported by an extensive pipeline of genetically engineered medicines and\ncell and gene therapies. Minapharm operates seven manufacturing facilities and\ncommercializes more than 100 life-saving and life-enhancing products. Its two\nbiotechnology facilities in Cairo are the region's longest-established\nend-to-end drug substance and drug product operations, from cell line to\nfinished vial. Together with its wholly owned Berlin-based subsidiary,\nProBioGen AG, Minapharm has built an integrated biopharmaceutical model\nspanning research, proprietary technology, development and manufacturing.\nThrough its subsidiary, ProBioGen, the Group is a global provider of\nproprietary technologies for vaccines, complex proteins, and cell and gene\ntherapies, which have contributed to multiple FDA-approved products. Minapharm\nemploys a combined workforce of more than 1,700 people and is listed on the\nEgyptian Exchange (EGX: MIPH). Learn more at minapharm.com\n(https://nam11.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.minapharm.com%2F&data=05%7C02%7CIOHubs%40prnewswire.com%7Cb7816c0aa4bd4591d84d08df042011df%7C887bf9ee3c824b88bcb280d5e169b99b%7C1%7C0%7C639234207943616372%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJFbXB0eU1hcGkiOnRydWUsIlYiOiIwLjAuMDAwMCIsIlAiOiJXaW4zMiIsIkFOIjoiTWFpbCIsIldUIjoyfQ%3D%3D%7C0%7C%7C%7C&sdata=2V2R2Yv%2FmdtdNG%2BkNyKSyn8vQJx8lNKoIUhvuHk2d%2FU%3D&reserved=0) \n\nAbout ProBioGen\n\nProBioGen (http://www.probiogen.de/) is a Berlin-based expert in the\ndevelopment and manufacturing of biopharmaceuticals, viral vectors, and\nvaccines, powered by proprietary technologies that enhance product quality and\nfeatures. It has developed multiple innovative vaccine platforms, including\nLenti.RiGHT®,\n(https://www.probiogen.de/technologies-for-viral-vectors-vaccines/lentiviral-production-system)\nAGE1 host cell lines and the IP-protected MVA-CR19\n(https://www.probiogen.de/technologies-for-viral-vectors-vaccines/mva-vector-platform)\nstrain, which has a unique genomic signature. Operating for over 30 years,\nProBioGen runs three manufacturing lines in Berlin, where 300 employees\ncontribute to advancing next-generation therapies and global biotech\ninnovation. For more information about ProBioGen (https://www.probiogen.de/),\nfollow us on LinkedIn (https://www.linkedin.com/company/probiogen-ag).\n\nPhoto - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/3008898/Minapharm_CEPI.jpg\n\n \n\nView original\ncontent:https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/african-bundibugyo-ebolavirus-vaccine-candidate-to-be-advanced-to-clinical-trials-302861775.html\n\n\n\nCEPI Media Contact: CEPI Press Office, press@cepi.net. | Minapharm Press Contact: Christina Azmy, cazmy@minapharm.com. | ProBioGen Press Contact: Sarah Wandrey, press@probiogen.de\n\nPhoto: \nhttps://mma.prnewswire.com/media/3008898/Minapharm_CEPI.jpg\n\nCopyright (c) 2026 PR Newswire Association,LLC. All Rights Reserved."},"type":"article","timestamp":"2026-08-27T11:32:50.387686695Z","server_sent_at_ms":1787830370387},"received_at":"2026-08-27T11:32:50.441Z","source_url":null},"analysis":{"id":"118111","press_release_id":"129198","analysis_json":{"industry":{"label":"Biotechnology","sector":"Health Care"},"redFlags":[],"eventType":"clinical_trial","narrative":"Minapharm secured up to $16.5 million in funding from CEPI to advance its Bundibugyo ebolavirus vaccine candidate into Phase 1 clinical trials.\n\nThe candidate utilizes subsidiary ProBioGen's proprietary MVA-CR19 platform and is designed to elicit both B- and T-cell responses for comprehensive immunity.\n\nThis partnership supports end-to-end manufacturing in Africa and aims to address the largest Bundibugyo ebolavirus outbreak on record in the DRC.","sentiment":"bullish","agentHooks":{"shouldPost":true,"suggestedAngle":"Non-dilutive $16.5M CEPI award validates Minapharm's platform and de-risks early-stage vaccine development."},"keyFigures":{"drugName":"Bundibugyo ebolavirus vaccine candidate","dealValueUsd":16500000,"phaseOfTrial":"Phase 1","customDimensions":{"platform":"MVA-CR19"}},"quotedText":"This programme demonstrates the strength of our capabilities across the full biologics continuum, from design and development through to manufacturing, in response to an urgent public-health threat.","namedEntities":{"people":[{"name":"Dr. Richard Hatchett","role":"CEO of CEPI"},{"name":"Dr. Wafik Bardissi","role":"Group Chairman and CEO of Minapharm"},{"name":"Dr. Volker Sandig","role":"Chief Scientific Officer of ProBioGen"},{"name":"Dr. Jean Kaseya","role":"Director General of Africa CDC"}],"products":["MVA-CR19 platform","Bundibugyo ebolavirus vaccine candidate"],"companies":[{"name":"Minapharm Group","ticker":"MIPH"},{"name":"Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations","relationship":"partner"},{"name":"ProBioGen","relationship":"subsidiary"},{"name":"Africa CDC","relationship":"partner"}],"dollarAmounts":[{"amount":"US$16.5 million","context":"funding from CEPI"}]},"materialImpact":{"score":3,"reasoning":"Minapharm secured up to $16.5 million in non-dilutive funding from CEPI to advance a proprietary vaccine candidate to Phase 1 trials. This is a significant operational milestone and capital infusion for a smaller biopharma, though the asset is still in early-stage development."},"tickerRelevance":{"others":[],"primary":"MIPH"},"globalImportance":25,"audienceRelevance":20,"eventTypeSecondary":["partnership"],"importanceComponents":{"tickerTier":"small_cap","eventGravity":"funding_phase_1"}},"event_type":"clinical_trial","event_type_secondary":["partnership"],"sentiment":"bullish","material_impact_score":3,"narrative":"Minapharm secured up to $16.5 million in funding from CEPI to advance its Bundibugyo ebolavirus vaccine candidate into Phase 1 clinical trials.\n\nThe candidate utilizes subsidiary ProBioGen's proprietary MVA-CR19 platform and is designed to elicit both B- and T-cell responses for comprehensive immunity.\n\nThis partnership supports end-to-end manufacturing in Africa and aims to address the largest Bundibugyo ebolavirus outbreak on record in the DRC.","key_figures":{"drugName":"Bundibugyo ebolavirus vaccine candidate","dealValueUsd":16500000,"phaseOfTrial":"Phase 1","customDimensions":{"platform":"MVA-CR19"}},"named_entities":{"people":[{"name":"Dr. Richard Hatchett","role":"CEO of CEPI"},{"name":"Dr. Wafik Bardissi","role":"Group Chairman and CEO of Minapharm"},{"name":"Dr. Volker Sandig","role":"Chief Scientific Officer of ProBioGen"},{"name":"Dr. Jean Kaseya","role":"Director General of Africa CDC"}],"products":["MVA-CR19 platform","Bundibugyo ebolavirus vaccine candidate"],"companies":[{"name":"Minapharm Group","ticker":"MIPH"},{"name":"Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations","relationship":"partner"},{"name":"ProBioGen","relationship":"subsidiary"},{"name":"Africa CDC","relationship":"partner"}],"dollarAmounts":[{"amount":"US$16.5 million","context":"funding from CEPI"}]},"model_name":"glm-4.7","prompt_hash":"sha256:727b4b9429a443af","schema_hash":"sha256:05005c02d9cffac9","created_at":"2026-08-27T12:09:52.837Z","global_importance":25,"audience_relevance":20,"importance_components":{"tickerTier":"small_cap","eventGravity":"funding_phase_1"}},"durationMs":234369,"modelName":"glm-4.7"}}