The United States has provided doses of an experimental antibody drug developed by Mapp Biopharmaceutical to support clinical trials targeting the Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), according to a Health Department spokesperson.

📻 Breaking It Down

The move marks a shift in policy, as the treatment had previously been made available primarily for use within the United States, with limited international access.

Officials from the US Department of Health and Human Services said the drug will now be supplied for compassionate use in Congo as well as to advance ongoing clinical trials in the affected region.

While the number of doses was not disclosed, the department said the objective is to generate data that could support future regulatory review and potential approval of the treatment.

📌 What You Need to Know

The decision comes as health authorities struggle to contain a rapidly spreading Ebola outbreak in eastern Congo, which has recorded more than 1,000 cases and over 250 deaths.

The World Health Organization (WHO) has warned that the outbreak could become one of the most severe in recent years if response efforts are not significantly strengthened.

The outbreak involves the Bundibugyo strain of Ebola, for which there are currently no approved vaccines or treatments, increasing reliance on experimental therapies under strict clinical trial conditions.

The WHO confirmed that shipments of experimental drugs, including Mapp’s MBP134 antibody therapy and other candidate treatments, are being delivered to support upcoming trials in the region.

The trials are being coordinated with partners in the Democratic Republic of Congo, Uganda, and international research institutions, including the University of Oxford.

MBP134 will be tested both as a standalone treatment and in combination with the antiviral drug remdesivir, developed by Gilead Sciences and widely used during the COVID-19 pandemic.

📰 Source: Capital FM Kenya