KINSHASA, July 1 – The Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention is seeking $18 million in urgent funding to support clinical trials of experimental Ebola treatments in the Democratic Republic of Congo, saying delays could weaken efforts to contain the outbreak.
The funding request comes as clinical trials are set to begin this week in Bunia, the capital of Ituri province, where the first cases of the Bundibugyo strain of Ebola were confirmed.
According to Africa CDC, the programme will test Gilead Sciences’ oral drug obeldesivir to help prevent infection among people exposed to the virus. Researchers will also evaluate remdesivir and an antibody developed by Mapp Biopharmaceuticals to reduce deaths among infected patients.
The programme also includes the accelerated development and production of vaccines designed specifically for the Bundibugyo strain. While funding for vaccine studies is largely in place, Africa CDC said treatment trials still face a major funding gap.
“We have the science. We now need the funding to use it. Clinical trials must start this week, and every day of delay costs lives we could save,” said Africa CDC Director General Dr. Jean Kaseya.
The agency is calling on governments, development banks, philanthropic organisations and other partners to provide $16 million within days to keep the obeldesivir study on track. It is also seeking an additional $2 million to $3 million to strengthen contact tracing efforts.
Africa CDC said it is working with the World Health Organization, the International AIDS Vaccine Initiative and the Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations in what it described as one of the fastest scientific responses mounted against a newly emerging Ebola strain.
