Congo begins trial of Gilead's experimental antiviral for Ebola Bundibugyo

The outbreak has led to 1,963 confirmed cases in Congo, including 719 deaths, according to government data.

The study aims to enroll about 1,000 people aged 12 years and older, who had high-risk exposure to a confirmed Ebola case within the previous five days but have not developed symptoms.

Participants will be monitored daily for 21 days, with a final follow-up at 42 days.

Obeldesivir has shown activity against filoviruses, including the Bundibugyo Ebola virus, in pre-clinical studies.

Gilead said it has donated 2,400 bottles of obeldesivir and 2,000 vials of remdesivir to support the trial.

The project has received initial funding of 3.4 million euros ($3.87 million) from the Global Health EDCTP3 partnership supported by the European Commission, and $1 million from the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention.

Africa CDC also helped secure an additional $5 million in funding commitments from South Africa and the Democratic Republic of Congo.

The study also includes a separate compassionate-use protocol under which Gilead's injectable antiviral remdesivir would be given to children under 12 years and pregnant or breastfeeding women exposed to the virus.

Researchers in the Democratic Republic of Congo said on Tuesday they have started enrolling participants in a trial testing Gilead Sciences' GILD.O experimental antiviral obeldesivir as a post-exposure treatment for the ongoing Bundibugyo Ebola outbreak in Congo and Uganda.