WHO to Begin Trials for Potential Ebola Treatment

On Wednesday, Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, the Director-General of the World Health Organization (WHO), announced that trials for two possible treatments targeting the Ebola Bundibugyo virus are set to start next week.

The Ebola Bundibugyo strain has been linked to ongoing outbreaks in both the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) and Uganda, with over 1,000 reported cases since May, including a recent infection involving a healthcare worker who returned to France. This strain is less prevalent than other Ebola strains, like those from Zaire and Sudan. Notably, there are currently no approved vaccines or treatments available for Bundibugyo infection.

If the trials in the DRC produce favorable outcomes, it might lead to a turnaround in the current situation. Tedros indicated that Ebola patients would be administered two antiviral medications, MBP134 and remdesivir, to observe if they can aid in quicker recovery.

“We’re prepared to start the clinical trials for these two treatments next week in the DRC,” Tedros said during a press briefing. “The aim is to determine if MBP134 and remdesivir, either alone or together, can lower the mortality rates among Bundibugyo patients.”

He also expressed gratitude towards the U.S. government for its assistance in facilitating the distribution of these medicines, despite withdrawing from the WHO following concerns about its response to the 2025 outbreak. Remdesivir is produced by Gilead Sciences, while MBP134 is an experimental antiviral created by Map Biopharmaceutical, both American companies.

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services confirmed that doses of both antiviral medications would be sent to the DRC for the trials centered on the Ebola outbreak. “The drug is provided for compassionate use in Congo and for additional clinical trials in areas where the disease is endemic,” a spokesperson for the ministry explained.

Remdesivir has gained recognition globally as a treatment for severe cases of Wuhan coronavirus infections. Previously, President Trump acknowledged this treatment at a press conference in March 2020, suggesting its potential against the new virus. Some studies propose that Remdesivir could also be effective against not only other coronaviruses but also Ebola and Marburg viruses.

MBP134 is still experimental and involves the use of cells from Ebola patients, specifically targeting Ebola treatment. As it hasn’t received full approval for widespread use, further research in the DRC is crucial. Experts have urged the U.S. to expedite access to MBP134 due to the urgent circumstances in both DRC and Uganda. A recent letter from various health advocacy and church organizations highlighted that it is in the U.S. interest to hasten the development of effective Ebola treatments.

With ongoing outbreaks and the risk of international spread, these experts emphasized the necessity of bolstering global health security by ensuring appropriate medical responses in affected regions.

In terms of the prevailing situation, Tedros reported that the WHO has verified 1,094 Ebola cases and 277 related deaths from the outbreak in eastern DRC, marking a mortality rate of about 25%. Besides the virus’s severity, there are persistent challenges in addressing public health emergencies in this area, such as armed militia threats that hinder access to communities and a general skepticism towards humanitarian efforts.

“We collaborate closely with local communities to inform and engage them in these clinical trials, ensuring they have access to treatments found to be safe and effective,” Tedros remarked.

Health workers, including WHO personnel, are facing significant distrust in the DRC. Many residents doubt the existence of Ebola, believing that deaths result from deliberate actions by health workers aimed at population control in Africa. Some actively resist abandoning traditional burial customs, which often involve close contact with corpses, risking further transmission. Consequently, health workers sometimes encounter violent opposition from groups attempting to reclaim bodies for traditional burials.

“Some think Ebola is just a story made up by doctors,” shared Jean Asmani, a local worker in Ituri. “But when people witness others dying from Ebola, perspectives shift, and they realize the disease is very real and begin to take precautions.”