WHO launches first clinical trial to treat Ebola

The World Health Organization (WHO) has announced the start of the first clinical trial to evaluate treatments against the Bundibugyo virus, a rare strain of Ebola, as the epidemic in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) continues to expand. At the same time, the organization authorized the emergency use of the first molecular diagnostic test for this variant of the virus, which currently has no approved vaccines or treatments, AFP reports.

• The first patient has already been included in the clinical trial

WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus announced that the clinical trial, called PARTNERS, has officially started by recruiting the first patient. The research aims to evaluate the effectiveness of the monoclonal antibody MBP134 and the antiviral Remdesivir, administered both individually and in combination, to treat Bundibugyo virus infection, AFP reports. The study is being led by the National Institute for Biomedical Research in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, in collaboration with an international coalition of partners, including the WHO. According to the organization's director, participants will receive full supportive care and ongoing medical monitoring throughout the study. "We are also trying to guarantee subsequent access to these two drugs if they prove safe and effective,” said Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.

• There is no approved vaccine or treatment yet

In parallel with the launch of the clinical trial, the WHO issued an emergency use authorization for the first molecular test capable of rapidly identifying infection with the Bundibugyo virus.

The measure is considered essential to limit the transmission of the disease, given that this rare strain of Ebola virus does not currently benefit from licensed vaccines or therapies. Health authorities hope that the introduction of the new test will speed up the diagnosis and isolation of cases, thus reducing the risk of the infection spreading.

• Epidemic continues to expand

According to data presented by the WHO, since the declaration of the 17th Ebola epidemic in the Democratic Republic of Congo on May 15, 1,406 cases of infection and 438 deaths have been confirmed, which corresponds to a mortality rate of 31.2%. The organization warns that the epidemic is still in an expansion phase, with an average of about 38 new confirmed cases each day in the last two weeks. The WHO director stated that the epidemiological surveillance system has improved, and contact tracing has reached about 80%, but many people who came into contact with the sick have not yet been identified.

• Treatment capacity, close to the limit

To respond to the increase in the number of patients, the authorities have expanded the hospitalization capacity to about 650 beds distributed in 22 specialized medical centers.

However, occupancy is very high, with almost 96% of the beds already in use.

The WHO announced that approximately 300 additional beds are being prepared to cope with the evolution of the epidemic. At the same time, the diagnostic network has expanded, with ten laboratories in the Democratic Republic of the Congo now capable of detecting the Bundibugyo virus.

• Violence hampers the intervention of health authorities

In addition to medical and logistical challenges, the response to the epidemic is affected by security issues and the distrust of part of the population towards the authorities. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus announced that, last week, an Ebola treatment center in Ituri province was attacked, an incident that resulted in the death of two people. According to him, such attacks endanger both patients and health workers and compromise efforts to limit the transmission of the virus. To strengthen international coordination, the United Nations has appointed Julien Harneis as lead coordinator of the response to the Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo.

• A new stage in the fight against a rare strain

The launch of the PARTNERS clinical trial represents the first large-scale effort to evaluate treatments dedicated to the Bundibugyo virus, one of the rarest variants of Ebola.

Specialists believe that the results of the research could pave the way for the first scientifically validated therapies for this strain and could significantly improve the response to future epidemic outbreaks. Until then, international health authorities warn that rapid identification of cases, contact tracing and protection of health workers remain the main tools for limiting the epidemic.