DRC Launches Clinical Trials for Experimental Bundibugyo Ebola Treatments

Clinical Trials for Experimental Bundibugyo Ebola Treatments Launch in DRC

Medical researchers have officially launched clinical trials in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) to test experimental treatments and preventive therapies for the Bundibugyo strain of the Ebola virus. As of early July 2026, the outbreak has reached nearly 2,000 cases, with official figures reporting 1,984 cases and 721 deaths. The trials, which are being conducted in Ituri province—the epicenter of the current outbreak—aim to provide the first approved medical countermeasures for a virus that currently lacks both a vaccine and an authorized treatment.

Experimental Treatment Trials: The “Partners” Study

The treatment trial, often referred to as the “Partners” study, is led by the DRC’s National Institute for Biomedical Research and France’s ANRS Emerging Infectious Diseases, with support from the Alliance for International Medical Action (ALIMA) and Medecins Sans Frontieres. Patients enrolled in the study are randomly allocated to one of three groups: receiving remdesivir, receiving MBP134, or receiving standard, supportive care. Remdesivir, an antiviral produced by Gilead Sciences, is administered as a 10-day intravenous therapy. MBP134, a monoclonal antibody developed by Mapp Biopharmaceutical, consists of two engineered immune proteins designed to neutralize the virus and is given as a one-time infusion. Prof. Laurens Liesenborghs of the Institute of Tropical Medicine in Antwerp noted that while these drugs have demonstrated efficacy against the Bundibugyo virus in animal models, the current trial is necessary to determine if they can effectively lower human mortality rates. Researchers estimate that they will need to enroll between 700 and 1,000 patients to achieve statistically significant results.

EBO-PEP: Preventing Disease in High-Risk Contacts

In addition to treating active cases, researchers have launched the EBO-PEP trial to test the use of Gilead Sciences’ experimental drug obeldesivir as post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP). This study focuses on preventing the disease in individuals who have had direct contact with a confirmed case—such as a sick person, a corpse, or a contaminated needle—within the previous five days. Participants, including adults and children over 12, must not show symptoms of the disease upon enrollment. They will be monitored daily for 21 days, with a final follow-up visit at 42 days. World Health Organization (WHO) Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus stated that if successful, this approach could serve as a “game-changing” method to control the outbreak when combined with effective contact tracing and community engagement.

For more on this story, see Oxford Launches First Human Trial of Bundibugyo Ebola Vaccine Candidate.

Context and Challenges of the Response

The launch of these trials occurs under difficult conditions. The current outbreak is moving at a record pace; in its first six weeks, it recorded approximately 1,600 confirmed cases, significantly higher than the 1,000 cases reported during the same period of the 2014–2016 West African epidemic. According to Wessam Mankoula of the Africa Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the estimated reproduction number is 1.4, indicating that the virus is spreading faster than the current response can contain it. Frontline workers face significant operational hurdles, including: * Community Mistrust: Low levels of trust in authorities and hostility toward burial teams have hindered efforts to manage the highly contagious bodies of victims. * Logistical Shortages: Shortages of personal protective equipment and vehicles have been reported, and the closure of the local airport in Bunia has impeded the supply of essential items, including cash. * Labor Protests: Some frontline workers have halted operations to protest a lack of pay, citing the dangers of their work and the inability to support their families. While DRC officials have stated that payments have been processed, the impact on operations remains unclear. Despite these challenges, the WHO and partnering agencies maintain that these clinical trials offer “real hope” for identifying tools to save lives and eventually bring the epidemic under control.

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