ISLAMABAD: (Web Desk) – The World Health Organization (WHO) has announced the launch of the first clinical trial to evaluate an antiviral drug designed to prevent Ebola infection in people recently exposed to the deadly Bundibugyo strain in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).
The study, known as EBO-PEP, is testing the effectiveness of the experimental antiviral drug obeldesivir as post-exposure treatment for individuals who have had close contact with confirmed Ebola patients. The oral medication, developed by US pharmaceutical company Gilead Sciences, has previously shown promising results against filoviruses in pre-clinical research.
WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus welcomed the start of the trial, describing it as a hopeful step toward preventing Ebola infections among people at high risk of exposure. He said that if the drug proves effective, it could significantly improve efforts to stop the disease from developing after exposure.
600 Dead in DR Congo Ebola Outbreak
Currently, there are no approved vaccines or treatments specifically for the Bundibugyo strain of Ebola. According to official figures from the Democratic Republic of Congo, the outbreak has infected more than 1,960 people and claimed over 700 lives since it was declared on May 15 in Ituri province.
The trial is being conducted at dedicated centres in Bunia and Rwampara, where researchers plan to enroll nearly 1,000 participants aged 12 years and older who were exposed to confirmed Ebola cases within the previous five days but have not yet developed symptoms. Participants will be monitored daily for 21 days, followed by a final assessment on day 42.
Meanwhile, WHO has warned that the actual scale of the outbreak may be two to four times larger than official reports indicate. Health officials say many infections remain undetected, with a large proportion of new cases emerging from unknown transmission chains. Concerns have also grown over people dying before reaching healthcare facilities.
In addition to the preventive trial, another clinical study launched on July 2 is assessing two potential treatments for Bundibugyo Ebola, including the monoclonal antibody MBP134 and the antiviral drug remdesivir, used individually and in combination. Researchers expect the studies to continue for several months before definitive results become available.
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