WHO launches first clinical trials for Bundibugyo Ebola strain treatment in Congo

The World Health Organization has launched its first clinical trials for treatments specifically targeting the Bundibugyo strain of the Ebola virus in the Democratic Republic of Congo, aiming to develop effective therapies for this strain, which currently has no approved treatment or vaccine.

The organization announced that it has enrolled the first patient in the international "PARTNERS" clinical trial, which will assess the effectiveness of the monoclonal antibody "MBP134" and the antiviral drug remdesivir, both individually and in combination. The study is being conducted in collaboration with the National Institute for Biomedical Research in the Democratic Republic of Congo, the University of Oxford in the UK, the Institute of Tropical Medicine in Belgium, and several international partners.

These trials come amid ongoing cases of the Bundibugyo strain, which has so far resulted in more than 1,400 infections and around 440 deaths in the Democratic Republic of Congo, with no approved treatments or vaccines available.

WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus stated that the launch of these trials marks a significant milestone in efforts to develop effective Ebola treatments, helping to save lives and strengthen preparedness for future outbreaks.

The trials are expected to involve hundreds of patients and will continue for several months before final results on the safety and efficacy of the treatments are released.