Residents in eastern Congo are placing their hopes on experimental treatments as researchers launched a study in early July of two potential Ebola therapies. The trial aims to combat the ongoing outbreak of the Bundibugyo virus, which has been less common than other Ebola strains and lacks specific treatments or vaccines.
The World Health Organization (WHO) announced the enrollment of the first participant in the trial, which is evaluating the effectiveness of the antiviral remdesivir, the experimental antibody treatment MBP134, or a combination of both, in improving survival rates for patients infected with the Bundibugyo virus. Survival will be monitored for 28 days after treatment begins, according to WHO research adviser Dr. Vasee Moorthy.
The outbreak, centered in eastern Congo's Ituri province, has already seen over 1,400 diagnoses and 438 deaths, according to WHO head Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.
The WHO-supported trial is a collaborative effort involving Congo's national biomedical research institute INRB, Britain’s Oxford University, Antwerp’s Institute of Tropical Medicine, and other international health organizations. Initially, the trial focuses on confirmed Ebola patients within specialized treatment centers. A second phase is planned to include healthcare workers, close contacts, and others at high risk of infection.
Professor Placide Mbala, coordinator of laboratory activities for the current outbreak, indicated that the research could continue for three to six months, depending on the progression of the outbreak. For many in Bunia, the trial's commencement provides a much-needed sense of encouragement amidst rising fear.
Despite the hope, researchers face significant challenges, including deep-seated community mistrust and logistical hurdles. Overcrowded treatment centers, delays in seeking care, and insecurity that restricts access to conflict-affected areas have hampered previous response efforts. Officials noted that nearly three out of four Ebola deaths during this outbreak have occurred outside of health centers. The trial is currently offered only at Bunia’s Evangelical Medical Centre, with plans to expand to other locations once safety permits.
The virus spreads through contact with bodily fluids of sick patients, and violence, including attacks on healthcare workers, has been prevalent in the region. Researchers aim to expand the trials to additional locations as security improves.