WHO Recommends Use of Monoclonal Antibodies in Ebola Treatment

Ebola virus disease (EVD) is a potentially fatal disease caused by infection with ebolavirus. This WHO statement regards EVD caused by the Zaire ebolavirus. Following a review of many randomized clinical trials, the WHO has recommended the use of two monoclonal antibodies in the treatment of EVD: mAb114 (Ansuvimab; Ebanga) and REGN-EB3 (Inmazeb).

According to the WHO, Ebola was first recorded in 1976 with outbreaks in South Sudan and the Democratic Republic of Congo. Since then, multiple outbreaks have occurred, including one in West Africa between 2014 and 2016.

Transmission of the virus between animals and humans occurs when a human has contact with the bodily fluids of infected animals. Furthermore, human-to-human transmission occurs with direct contact with bodily fluids from infected people or with contaminated materials.

Symptoms of this virus can include fever, fatigue, muscle pain, vomiting, diarrhea, rash, impaired kidney and liver function, and more.

The WHO news release states, “the new guidance complements clinical care guidance that outlines the optimized supportive care Ebola patients should receive, from the relevant tests to administer, to managing pain, nutrition and co-infections, and other approaches that put the patient on the best path to recovery.”

The use of these two monoclonal antibodies was previously approved in 2020 by the FDA for use in the United States. The WHO press statement suggests that these treatments are safe for nearly all infected with Ebola, including pregnant and breastfeeding people, children, and newborns.

For the most effective outcomes, the WHO suggests immediate administration of monoclonal antibodies after diagnosis. In addition to the recommendations, the WHO cautions against using ZMapp and remdesivir for treatment.

While these treatments have proven to be effective, there are some difficulties regarding accessibility. In this statement, the WHO emphasizes its commitment to ensuring that the medications are available where they are needed most.

“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, MS, FRCPC University of Toronto, Canada, and co-chair of the guideline development group in the WHO press release. “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.”