DRC Begins Trial of Two Experimental Ebola Treatments

Health authorities in the Democratic Republic of Congo have begun a clinical trial of two experimental Ebola treatments as the outbreak spreads in the northeast. The study, launched on Thursday, is testing the monoclonal antibody MBP134 and the antiviral drug remdesivir, both separately and in combination. The first patient has already been enrolled.

Health authorities say 1,460 confirmed cases have been recorded since the outbreak was declared on 15 May, with 447 deaths, producing a fatality rate of 30.6 percent. The outbreak remains centered in Ituri province, but cases have also appeared in North Kivu and South Kivu.

A first infection has been confirmed in Kisangani, a major city distant from the original epicenter. The patient was a 24-year-old pregnant woman whose body was transported by motorcycle from Nia Nia in Ituri, highlighting risks from unsafe handling of the dead.

The World Health Organization said the trial could take months and may involve more than 1,000 patients. Enrolled participants will receive supportive care and close monitoring. The agency is also working to secure post-trial access if the drugs prove safe and effective. No approved vaccines or specific treatments currently exist for the Bundibugyo strain.

Contact tracing and testing capacity have improved, yet treatment centers are already near capacity. An average of 38 new confirmed cases per day have been recorded over the past two weeks. Health workers in Ituri have faced resistance from some communities.

An Ebola treatment center was set on fire this week after protests over burials of suspected victims, resulting in two deaths and the flight of patients.