New Ebola Drug Breakthrough Has Promising '90% Survival Rate'

The two most effective drugs have been kept, and the two others (ZMapp and Remdesivir) have been dropped from the trial as they weren't showing strong enough signs of treatment. 

The two 'good' drugs are REGN-EB3 and mAb114. They work by targeting and attacking the Ebola virus with antibodies taken from patients who have survived from Ebola, which then neutralizes its impact on the human cells. 

The U.S. National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID), which co-sponsored the trial, were pleased with the results. 

NIAID director, Dr. Anthony Fauci, said that "these are the first drugs that, in a scientifically sound study, have clearly shown a significant diminution in mortality."

What happened when the drugs were trialled?

The trial, which began in November 2018, tested the four drugs on roughly 700 Ebola patients. The results of the first 500 patients are now known and clearly show which drugs work best.

To show the contrast between the two well-functioning drugs and the two lesser ones, when REGN-EB3 was used, 29% of patients tested died, and with mAb114 34% died.

In contrast, 49% died when on ZMapp, and 53% on Remdesivir.

When patients started the trial early on in the illness, 94% survived when on REGN-EB3, and 89% with mAb114. 

This is a huge success medically speaking. 

Even though the disease will most likely never be eradicated, now there is a hopeful and positive turn in being able to treat it effectively, and perhaps even prevent it. 

It certainly is a strong urge for people who contract the virus early on to seek medical help quickly. 

A little recap on what Ebola is.

When caught, the Ebola virus causes fever, intense weakness, muscle pain and a sore throat. 

The #Ebola drugs trial started in November 2018 and is aimed at evaluating the effectiveness and safety of four drugs used in the treatment of patients in #DRC. It is the first-ever multi-drug trial for an Ebola treatment. https://t.co/Jcq97oP55t pic.twitter.com/tYZUvpCNDA

— World Health Organization (WHO) (@WHO) August 12, 2019

It moves onto vomiting, diarrhoea, and internal and external bleeding. 

Patients typically die from dehydration and organ failure. 

These two new drugs could hugely impact the lives of many people in the DRC, as well as their families and close ones.