Officials commented on the matter. This landmark clinical trial is the first to evaluate the effectiveness of post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP) using the antiviral obeldesivir against the Bundibugyo Ebola virus, which is currently causing a public health emergency of international concern in the DRC and Uganda.
The trial’s launch on July 14, 2026, follows the World Health Organisation’s (WHO) declaration of the outbreak as a PHEIC on May 17, 2026.
As of July 9, 2026, the DRC’s National Institute of Public Health reported 1,759 infections and 600 deaths.
The Bundibugyo species of Ebola virus has historically resulted in case fatality rates between 30% and 50%.
The current outbreak is particularly challenging due to a humanitarian crisis, remote and densely populated areas, insecurity, and high population and trade movements, all of which have complicated response efforts.
The EBO — PEP trial, which has been in preparation since 2024, aims to protect high-risk contacts by administering obeldesivir, an antiviral drug developed by Gilead Sciences that has shown efficacy against several filoviruses, including the Bundibugyo virus, in pre-clinical models. Recruitment for the trial began on July 14, 2026, in Ituri province, the epicentre of the outbreak. Participants, who must have been in direct contact with a confirmed case within the preceding five days and not show any symptoms, will be monitored for 21 days following treatment.
In addition to the EBO — PEP trial, the PARTNERS clinical trial, also sponsored by the WHO, is assessing the efficacy of two antiviral therapies in improving survival rates among those diagnosed with Bundibugyo virus disease.
The EBO — PEP trial is part of a broader international effort to combat the outbreak and is supported by the Global Health EDCTP3 partnership and Africa CDC, which has contributed USD 1 million in direct financing.
The trial’s success could establish PEP as a critical approach to preventing Ebola disease among those at highest risk of infection, potentially saving countless lives.
*Additional reporting by ImNews | Sources consulted: 5*
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This original article was produced by the ImNews editorial team
Source: reliefweb
Source: Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention
