US provides Ebola treatment for outbreak in Congo, bringing trials closer

The U.S. has provided doses of an experimental antibody drug from Mapp Biopharmaceutical for use in clinical trials to fight the widening Ebola outbreak in

Democratic Republic of Congo, a Health Department spokesperson said.



The Department of Health and Human Services spokesperson declined to comment on the number of doses it will provide, saying by email that the drug is being made available for compassionate use in Congo as well as to advance a clinical trial in the outbreak region.



The trial data could help inform future regulatory review and potential U.S. approval, the spokesperson said.



There are no approved vaccines or treatments for the Bundibugyo strain of Ebola, which has caused more than 1,000 cases in Congo, including more than 250 deaths. A handful of cases and deaths have also been reported in neighboring Uganda.