Ebola vaccine undergoes clinical trials.

The World Health Organization (WHO) recommends prioritizing three experimental Ebola treatments, including Mapp Biopharmaceutical's MBP134, Regeneron's maftivimab, and Gilead Sciences' antiviral remdesivir.

The WHO said on May 28 that other Ebola drugs and vaccines should be evaluated in clinical trials to generate data on their use. The agency and outside experts have been working to identify several potential vaccines.

This move comes amid an Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo, with several cases also reported in Uganda. There is currently no vaccine or official treatment for the Ebola Bundibugyo strain, according to the WHO.

The World Health Organization (WHO) recommends prioritizing three experimental Ebola treatments, including MBP134 from Mapp Biopharmaceutical, maftivimab from Regeneron, and the antiviral remdesivir from Gilead Sciences. Photo: NDTV.

Supplies of maftivimab are readily available at the DRC, should the WHO wish to use it for immediate treatment or additional testing for research, Regeneron said in a statement.

For preventative purposes, Gilead's experimental antiviral drug is highlighted as the preferred post-exposure treatment for individuals who have been in contact with confirmed cases, although its effectiveness will depend on contact tracing.

Among the drugs, the single-dose rVSV Bundibugyo vaccine, currently being developed by the International AIDS Vaccine Initiative, is considered the most promising. However, this vaccine will not be ready for trials for another 7-9 months, the agency said.

Another candidate, ChAdOx1 Bundibugyo, developed by the University of Oxford and the Serum Institute of India, may be available for testing within 2-3 months, although additional animal data are not yet complete.

The WHO is also considering the possibility of using Merck's Ervebo, the only licensed Ebola vaccine, but says it should not be deployed outside of research facilities because its protection against the Bundibugyo strain is still limited and inconclusive.

WHO advisors also recommended evaluating combination therapy using monoclonal antibodies in conjunction with remdesivir.

The agency said it is working with authorities in Congo and Uganda, along with partners including the Africa CDC, to design and conduct clinical trials according to strict ethical standards.

Source: https://nongnghiepmoitruong.vn/vaccine-ebola-duoc-thu-nghiem-lam-sang-d813725.html