The United States will provide doses of the experimental Ebola treatment MBP134 to support compassionate-use cases and clinical trials in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), where a fast-growing outbreak of the Bundibugyo strain is underway. The policy marks a shift from earlier guidance limiting the drug to American citizens exposed to the virus. Developed by Mapp Biopharmaceutical, MBP134 will be tested alone and in combination with two antiviral drugs from Gilead Sciences. Health officials hope trial results will help determine whether the treatments are effective against the Bundibugyo strain, for which no approved vaccine or therapy exists. However, conducting the trials will be challenging because the outbreak is concentrated in conflict-affected eastern Congo, where insecurity, disrupted supply chains, and public mistrust complicate response efforts.
RFI