The World Health Organization (WHO) has identified three experimental treatments and several vaccine candidates for clinical trials as an outbreak of the Bundibugyo strain of Ebola continues in the Democratic Republic of Congo and Uganda.
The agency said MBP134, developed by Mapp Biopharmaceutical, Regeneron’s maftivimab and Gilead Sciences’ antiviral remdesivir should be prioritised for testing.
WHO said there are currently no approved vaccines or therapies specifically for the Bundibugyo virus disease and recommended that the drugs and vaccine candidates be evaluated in clinical trials to generate more data.
Regeneron said supplies of maftivimab are already available in Congo and could be used for treatment or research studies if requested by the WHO.
For prevention, the agency identified Gilead’s experimental oral antiviral obeldesivir as a priority option for post-exposure use among contacts of confirmed cases, although it noted that effectiveness would depend on strong contact tracing.
Among vaccine candidates, WHO described the single-dose rVSV Bundibugyo vaccine, being developed by the International AIDS Vaccine Initiative, as the most promising. However, it said the vaccine is unlikely to be ready for trials for another seven to nine months.
Another candidate, ChAdOx1 Bundibugyo, developed by Oxford University and the Serum Institute of India, could be available for testing within two to three months, although further animal data is required.
WHO also reviewed Merck’s Ervebo, the only licensed Ebola vaccine, but said it should not be used outside research settings because evidence of protection against the Bundibugyo strain remains limited.
The agency said it is working with authorities in Congo and Uganda, alongside Africa CDC and other partners, to design and implement clinical trials under strict ethical standards.
Faridah Abdulkadiri
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