More than 250 participants have enrolled in a clinical trial in eastern Congo to test an experimental antiviral pill, obeldesivir, aimed at preventing the Bundibugyo strain of Ebola. Coordinated by the medical nonprofit ALIMA, the study focuses on post-exposure prophylaxis for individuals who have had contact with confirmed cases but remain asymptomatic. The trial, which began in July, seeks to recruit nearly 1,000 participants to determine if the drug can effectively break the chain of infection.
Since the outbreak was declared in mid-May, authorities have recorded at least 8,300 confirmed cases and 4,000 deaths across seven provinces. The virus currently lacks an approved vaccine or treatment, and health officials report that the spread is outpacing containment efforts. The study is being conducted in the Ituri province, the epicenter of the outbreak, in partnership with Congo’s National Institute of Biomedical Research and the French institute ANRS Emerging Infectious Diseases.
Participants in the trial are monitored daily for 21 days to track potential symptom development. While researchers face challenges in maintaining engagement due to the emotional toll on families affected by the disease, they emphasize that the pill offers a different approach than vaccines or curative treatments. If proven effective, the medication could provide a vital tool in slowing the deadliest Ebola outbreak in the country's history.
