Two New Ebola Treatments Found Highly Effective

Just last month the World Health Organization (WHO) declared the Ebola outbreak in Congo a global health emergency. Now, two experimental, antibody-based treatments may become available to treat patients. 

 

Known as REGN-EB3 (developed by Regeneron Pharmaceuticals)  and mAb114 (developed by Ridgeback Biotherapeutics), both treatments are delivered intravenously and were among four therapies that were initially tested in a trial that has enrolled almost 700 patients since November. Preliminary results showed these two treatments worked so well, the other two drugs were dropped from the trial, according to The New York Times.  

 

The trial found that only 6% of patients with low viral loads who were given Regeneron’s drug died and only 11% of those who received Biotherapeutics drug died. When compared to the 70% mortality rate among untreated and unvaccinated patients, it’s easy to see why researchers are hopefully they finally have an option to combat Ebola. 

 

Dr. Anthony S. Fauci, director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, believes that the 90% success rate of these treatments “may contribute to [patients] feeling more comfortable about seeking care early.”

 

“The more we can learn about these two treatments, the closer we can get to turning Ebola from a terrifying disease to one that is preventable and treatable,” Dr. Jeremy Farrar, director of the Wellcome Trust and a co-chair of WHO committee evaluating Ebola therapeutics, said. 

 

Read more about these treatments and the Ebola crisis in The New York Times.