Researchers began testing remdesivir and MBP134 on Thursday at Bunia's Evangelical Medical Center, tracking each patient's survival for 28 days to see whether either drug—or both together—improves outcomes.
The trial targets the Bundibugyo strain, which has no approved vaccine or specific treatment, as the outbreak in eastern Congo has grown to more than 1,400 diagnosed cases and 438 deaths.
WHO adviser Vasee Moorthy said the study could take months and enroll up to 1,000 participants, though a strongly effective drug could be identified sooner with fewer patients.
A second phase will extend to healthcare workers, close contacts and other high-risk people, and officials plan to expand the study beyond Bunia when security conditions allow.
Bunia residents have split between hope and distrust, underscoring the community acceptance challenge facing a trial run by Congo's INRB with Oxford, Antwerp's tropical medicine institute and other partners.
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Bundibugyo Ebola 2026: Race for Treatment Amid Vaccine Gaps and Humanitarian Crisis in DRC and Uganda
Overview
The Bundibugyo Ebola outbreak in late June 2026 has triggered an urgent clinical trial in the Democratic Republic of Congo, as there are still no approved vaccines or specific treatments for this strain. The Bundibugyo virus, first identified in 2007, has caused only small outbreaks before, which limited commercial interest in developing vaccines or treatments. Existing Ebola vaccines target the Zaire ebolavirus and are not proven effective against Bundibugyo. This gap has led to a rapid response, with new trials aiming to find effective therapies and address the ongoing threat, highlighting the urgent need for targeted medical solutions.