Key facts
- WHO Director-General Tedros Ghebreyesus stated the Ebola response is insufficient.
- Ghebreyesus noted the virus has a head start despite improved testing.
- RedHill Biopharma is discussing potential collaborations for opaganib's clinical advancement for Ebola.
- The outbreak is occurring in Africa, with specific mention of the Democratic Republic of Congo.
The Director-General of the World Health Organization (WHO), Tedros Ghebreyesus, has expressed significant concern over the current response to a deadly Ebola outbreak in Africa. In an interview with CBS News, Ghebreyesus stated that the existing measures are insufficient to effectively combat the virus's spread, noting that the outbreak had a "head start" despite improvements in testing. He emphasized the need for a faster and more comprehensive approach, stating, "The virus is ahead of us, we need to move faster." The outbreak involves the rare Bundibugyo ebolavirus sub-type, for which there are no approved medications or vaccines. Amidst this, RedHill Biopharma is in discussions regarding potential collaborations for the clinical advancement of its drug opaganib, exploring its possible use in treating the disease.