Rwandan scientists and partners from the World Health Organization (WHO) have launched the world’s first clinical trials for Marburg virus disease treatment. Currently, there are no approved treatments or vaccines against Marburg virus, though a clinical trial of an investigational Marburg virus vaccine from the Sabin Vaccine Institute recently launched in the country.
Matshidiso Moeti, MBBS, head of the WHO Africa regional office, said on X today that the clinical trial will test the efficacy and safety of remdesivir as well as MBP091, a monoclonal antibody that targets Marburg virus. The drug was developed by Mapp Biopharmaceutical with support from the Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority (BARDA), which is part of the US Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Administration for Strategic Preparedness and Response (ASPR).
Health ministry reports no new cases or deaths
For the third day in a row, Rwanda’s health ministry reported no new Marburg cases or deaths, keeping the outbreak total at 62 infections, 15 of them fatal. Since the outbreak was first announced, all new cases have been related to a hospital cluster and their contacts in Kigali. Officials said there is no evidence of community spread.
Eight more people recovered from their illnesses. Health workers have also vaccinated 856 people as part of the clinical trial of the Sabin Vaccine Institute’s investigational Marburg virus vaccine.