WHO announces two experimental Ebola drug trials in DR Congo

The World Health Organization (WHO) has announced the launch of clinical trials for two experimental Ebola treatments in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), as the number of confirmed cases in the country’s latest outbreak surpasses 1,000, as reported by Africanews with agencies on June 25th.

The trials, which are expected to begin next week, will evaluate whether two antiviral drugs can reduce deaths caused by the Bundibugyo strain of Ebola. Researchers will test the treatments individually and in combination to determine their effectiveness.

The announcement comes amid growing concern over the outbreak, which has recorded 1,048 confirmed infections and 277 deaths since it was declared on May 15th. The Bundibugyo strain remains particularly challenging for health authorities because there is currently no approved vaccine or treatment available.

According to WHO, between 500 and 1,000 people are expected to participate in the study. The trials will initially be conducted at a hospital in the north-eastern province of Ituri, where the majority of cases have been detected.

WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said the organisation and its partners are working closely with affected communities to ensure they understand and participate in the research process.

He added that efforts are also being made to guarantee access to the treatments if they are proven to be both safe and effective.

The research programme will be led by a consortium of international and local organisations, including the DRC’s National Institute for Biomedical Research, humanitarian medical group ALIMA, Oxford University and the WHO.

Tedros also expressed gratitude to the United States and pharmaceutical company Gilead Sciences, which donated the doses required for the trials.

Health officials hope the study will provide valuable evidence on how best to treat infections caused by the Bundibugyo strain and help reduce fatalities as the outbreak continues. The results could play an important role in shaping future responses to Ebola outbreaks involving strains for which few medical countermeasures currently exist.

Africanews with agencies, Maghrebi.org