WHO Publishes First Guidelines for Treating Ebola

The World Health Organization (WHO) has published its first guideline for Ebola virus disease therapeutics, with new strong recommendations for the use of two monoclonal antibodies. The drugs, Regeneron’s Inmazeb (REGN-EB3) and Ridgeback Bio’s Ebanga (mAb114), use laboratory-made monoclonal antibodies that mimic natural antibodies in fighting off infections.

The two recommended therapeutics have demonstrated clear benefits and can be used for all patients confirmed positive for Ebola virus disease, including older people, pregnant and breastfeeding women, children and newborns born to mothers with confirmed Ebola within the first seven days after birth. According to WHO, patients should receive recommended neutralizing monoclonal antibodies as soon as possible after laboratory confirmation of diagnosis.

“Advances in supportive care and therapeutics over the past decade have revolutionized the treatment of Ebola. Ebola virus disease used to be perceived as a near certain killer. However, that is no longer the case,” said Robert Fowler, MD, of the University of Toronto, Canada, and co-chair of the guideline development group. “Provision of best supportive medical care to patients, combined with monoclonal antibody treatment — mAb114 or REGN-EB3 — now leads to recovery for the vast majority of people.”

WHO is making strong recommendations for the use of the two therapeutics; however, the organization stresses there is a need for further research and evaluation of clinical interventions since many uncertainties remain. Further, WHO says improvements could be made in supportive care, as well as in the understanding and characterization of Ebola virus disease and its longer-term consequences to ensure continued inclusion of vulnerable populations (pregnant women, newborns, children and older people) in future research.