Clinical trial set to test two drugs for fast-growing Ebola outbreak

By
Helen Branswell
June 24, 2026
0 min

Stat News

Objective:

To evaluate the effectiveness of remdesivir and MBP-134 against the Bundibugyo ebolavirus during an ongoing outbreak in the Democratic Republic of the Congo.

Approach:

Clinical Trial Design: The trial will test the antiviral drug remdesivir and the monoclonal antibody MBP-134, both individually and in combination, to assess their efficacy against Bundibugyo ebolavirus.

Key Findings:

The current outbreak is the third largest on record, with nearly 1,100 confirmed cases and over 275 deaths.
There are no proven drugs or vaccines for the Bundibugyo species of Ebola.
The trial will require approximately 1,000 participants due to the potentially lower case fatality rate of this Ebola species.

Interpretation:

Limitations:

Only the therapeutic use of MBP-134 will be tested, not its prophylactic potential.
The trial's design may need to accommodate a larger participant pool due to the lower severity of disease in some cases.

Conclusion:

The trial is a collaborative effort involving multiple organizations and aims to provide critical data on the safety and efficacy of the tested therapies.