Researchers from the University of Texas Medical Branch (UTMB) recently published in Cell Host & Microbe recently found that a single dose of a new medication could successfully protect against all strains of the Ebola virus.
In tests, the researchers found their drug was capable of protecting nonhuman primates against lethal infection from every strain of Ebola. The two-antibody cocktail is a solution that could, if proven useful in humans, reduce burdens on health care workers in the field moving to contain outbreaks.
Dr. Thomas Geisbert, a UTMB Ebola researcher, said that current treatments follow the “one bug, one drug” variety without looking at all potential strains.
“Our experimental drug can protect against all forms of Ebola known to harm people, suggesting that it will continue to protect people if the Ebola viruses evolve over time,” Geisbert said.
“We were able to protect the nonhuman primates against all the Ebola species plaguing people at a single low dose,” Larry Zeitlin, president of Mapp Biopharmaceutical Inc., said. “Further studies exploring even lower doses could open the door to treatment via auto-injectors like the kind used for allergic reactions.”