Key facts
- The first patients have been enrolled in an Ebola treatment trial in the Democratic Republic of the Congo.
- The trial began six weeks after the WHO declared the outbreak a public health emergency on May 17.
- The trial is testing two drugs, remdesivir and MBP134, against the Bundibugyo strain of Ebola.
- As of July 9, there were 1,792 confirmed cases and 625 deaths from the Bundibugyo strain of Ebola.
- Frontline workers have protested a lack of pay and essential equipment, impacting response efforts.
The first patients have been enrolled in a record-breaking Ebola treatment trial in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, offering hope for an effective treatment against the Bundibugyo strain of the virus. The trial, named Partners, began just six weeks after the World Health Organization (WHO) declared the outbreak a public health emergency on May 17.
As of July 9, the outbreak had resulted in 1,792 confirmed cases and 625 deaths. The Bundibugyo strain has no vaccine or approved treatment, and is currently in its expansion phase. Current response efforts rely on identifying cases, isolation, and contact tracing, but are hampered by low community trust and a mobile population. Frontline workers have also faced challenges, including a lack of pay and essential equipment, with some stopping work in protest.
The Partners trial is testing two drugs: remdesivir, an antiviral made by Gilead Sciences, and MBP134, a monoclonal antibody developed by Mapp Biopharmaceutical. Patients will be randomly assigned to receive one of the drugs, a combination, or standard supportive care. Both drugs have shown efficacy against the Bundibugyo virus in animal models, and researchers aim to determine if they can lower mortality rates in humans. Previous trials for the Zaire strain of Ebola showed monoclonal antibodies could reduce death rates from 50% to 35%.
The trial is designed to be adaptable, allowing for additional treatments to be added. It requires between 700 and 1,000 patients for statistically significant results. Supplies for 1,200 patients have been donated by Gilead and the U.S. government. Unlike some previous research, the trial includes patients of all ages, including pregnant and breastfeeding women.
Scientists are optimistic about the rapid setup of the trial, especially compared to previous outbreaks. Prof Amanda Rojek of the University of Oxford highlighted the strong scientific leadership in the DRC. Another trial is also set to begin, investigating whether the drug obeldesivir can prevent disease in contacts of infected individuals.