There's no treatment designed for the Ebola strain ravaging DRC. But now there's hope
The Ebola outbreak caused by the Bundibugyo strain in the Democratic Republic of Congo and Uganda has killed over 500 people and sickened more than 1,560. The World Health Organization has begun clinical trials testing the antiviral remdesivir and the monoclonal antibody MBP-134, both existing drugs being repurposed for this strain. The trials involve collaboration among WHO, Africa CDC, universities, nonprofits, and U.S. BARDA funding, with initial enrollment at a single clinic in the DRC and plans to expand.
- ▪The outbreak, declared over 50 days ago, has resulted in more than 500 deaths and 1,560 infections.
- ▪The first patients have been enrolled in a WHO‑coordinated trial testing remdesivir and MBP-134 against the Bundibugyo Ebola strain.
- ▪BARDA, a U.S. government agency, funded and supplied the MBP-134 doses for the trial.
- ▪The trial will assess each drug alone and in combination, compared with standard supportive care.
- ▪Only one clinic in the DRC is currently participating, with expansion expected in the coming weeks.
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Global Health There's no treatment designed for the Ebola strain ravaging DRC. But now there's hope July 7, 20268:51 AM ET By Jonathan Lambert A health worker takes a woman's temperature as part of Ebola screening efforts in Goma, Democratic Republic of Congo. As part of the effort to quash the outbreak, the first patients have been enrolled in a clinical trial to test two drugs against the Bundibugyo strain of the virus that is spreading there. In addition, researchers plan to study whether another drug could protect people exposed to the virus. Daniel Buuma/Getty Images hide caption toggle caption Daniel Buuma/Getty Images It's been over 50 days since the Ebola outbreak was declared in the Democratic Republic of Congo and Uganda.
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