Inside the study for a remedy to fight Congo's deadliest Ebola outbreak

In a critical step to combat the deadliest outbreak of Ebola in Congo, a trial for a potential drug has begun. The drug being tested is obeldesivir, an experimental antiviral pill developed by Gilead. This is one of several studies launched to find some protection against the outbreak, which has been described as a critical step. The trial began in July and is coordinated by ALIMA, a medical nonprofit.

The drug is targeted at Bundibugyo virus, which is responsible for the fast-moving outbreak in eastern Congo. To date, there is no approved vaccine or treatment for this virus. The trial involves more than 250 participants, with at least 8,300 confirmed cases and 4,000 deaths reported since the outbreak was declared in mid-May.

Participants in the trial are people who have been exposed to the disease, including health workers and patients' relatives. They are given the pill soon after suspected contact with the virus to prevent the disease from developing. This approach is called post-exposure prophylaxis, or PEP.

One participant, known as EBO-PEP, enrolled in the study after her husband tested positive for Ebola. She says no one from her family developed symptoms so far. Participants have requested anonymity due to the sensitive nature of the outbreak and the medical protocol involved.

The trial is testing if the pill can prevent the disease from developing in asymptomatic people exposed to Bundibugyo virus within five days. If successful, it could help break the infection chain, making it different from a vaccine and curative treatment. However, the efficacy of the pill remains unproven, and no vaccine or treatment is currently approved for this virus.