The World Health Organization announced on July 3 the launch of the PARTNERS clinical trial to evaluate potential treatments for Ebola disease caused by Bundibugyo virus in the Democratic Republic of the Congo.
The Platform Adaptive Randomized Trial for New and Repurposed Filovirus TreatmentS (PARTNERS) will assess whether two antiviral therapies—a monoclonal antibody (MBP134) and remdesivir—can improve survival among people diagnosed with Bundibugyo virus disease. The trial will also examine if combining these antivirals offers additional benefits. Enrolment is now open to patients in the country.
Coordinated by the Institut National de Recherche Biomédicale, the Institute of Tropical Medicine in Belgium, and the University of Oxford, with support from Africa CDC and other international partners, this initiative comes as over 1,400 people have been diagnosed with BVD since the start of the outbreak. Nearly 210 people have recovered while almost 440 have died. No approved treatment currently exists specifically for Bundibugyo virus disease, although effective therapies are available for other types of Ebola virus disease.
According to WHO, these treatments were selected following a thorough review by its Technical Advisory Group based on scientific evidence from preclinical research and past outbreak responses. Patients enrolled will receive close support and follow-up care for at least 28 days after enrolment. The platform design allows additional treatments to be included as new options become available after assessment.
"We urgently need treatments that can help people affected by Bundibugyo virus disease. One of the key lessons from recent outbreaks is that research needs to happen alongside the response, not after it," said Professor Amanda Rojek, PARTNERS Trial Operations Lead at University of Oxford's Pandemic Sciences Institute. "The PARTNERS trial gives us an opportunity to evaluate potential treatments during the outbreak itself, so that the evidence generated can help inform patient care when it is needed most – in months rather than years." Participating units will provide early supportive care according to WHO guidelines.
Dr. Samuel Roger Kamba, Minister of Health of DRC, said, "In responding to Bundibugyo virus disease, the Democratic Republic of the Congo is demonstrating its strong commitment to science and research. The launch of the PARTNERS clinical trial represents a significant step forward, offering renewed hope to patients, their families, and affected communities." He added that findings could contribute to identifying more effective therapeutic options during this outbreak while strengthening preparedness for future epidemics.
