Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of the Congo – A landmark international clinical trial aimed at identifying the first effective treatment for Bundibugyo virus disease (BVD), a rare but deadly form of Ebola, has begun enrolling patients in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), raising new hopes for improving survival during the country’s ongoing outbreak.
The PARTNERS (Platform Adaptive Randomised Trial for New and Repurposed Filovirus TreatmentS) study will evaluate whether two antiviral therapies—MBP134, an investigational monoclonal antibody, and the antiviral drug remdesivir—can reduce deaths among people infected with the Bundibugyo strain of Ebola virus. Researchers will also investigate whether combining the two therapies offers greater clinical benefit than using either treatment alone.
The trial is sponsored by the World Health Organization (WHO) and coordinated by the Institut National de Recherche Biomédicale (INRB) in the DRC, the Institute of Tropical Medicine in Belgium, and the University of Oxford in the United Kingdom. The initiative is being implemented in collaboration with international research institutions, humanitarian organizations, and outbreak response partners, with support from the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC).
Addressing a critical treatment gap
Although significant progress has been made in developing treatments for the Zaire strain of Ebola virus, no approved therapy currently exists for Bundibugyo virus disease, leaving healthcare workers to rely largely on supportive care.
Since the current outbreak began, more than 1,400 confirmed cases have been reported in the DRC. Nearly 440 people have died, while about 210 patients have recovered, underscoring the urgent need for effective therapeutic options.
The investigational treatments selected for the PARTNERS trial were recommended by the WHO Technical Advisory Group following a comprehensive review of laboratory studies, safety data, and evidence gathered during previous Ebola outbreaks.
Participants enrolled in the study will receive intensive clinical monitoring and follow-up for at least 28 days, alongside comprehensive supportive care in accordance with WHO treatment guidelines. This includes fluid replacement, electrolyte management, oxygen therapy where necessary, blood pressure support, pain management, and other life-saving interventions.
Research integrated into outbreak response
WHO Director-General Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said the rapid establishment of the trial demonstrates how research can be integrated into emergency response efforts to accelerate access to life-saving evidence.
“Even without approved therapeutics, people are recovering from this disease, but we could save many more lives with safe and effective therapeutics in our toolkit,” Dr. Tedros said.
He described the study as a major step toward generating evidence that could directly benefit communities affected by the current outbreak while strengthening preparedness for future Ebola emergencies.
Unlike conventional clinical trials, the PARTNERS study has been designed as an adaptive platform trial, allowing additional promising therapies to be introduced and evaluated as new scientific evidence emerges.
Professor Amanda Rojek, Associate Professor of Health Emergencies at the University of Oxford and Operations Lead for the PARTNERS trial, said one of the most important lessons from previous Ebola outbreaks is that research must occur simultaneously with outbreak response.
“Research needs to happen alongside the response—not after it. Conducting clinical trials during an outbreak allows evidence to inform patient care when it is needed most, rather than years later,” she noted.
Strengthening evidence for future outbreaks
The Director-General of the Institut National de Recherche Biomédicale (INRB), Professor Jean-Jacques Muyembe-Tamfum, said embedding research within routine patient care allows individuals affected by the disease to access promising investigational therapies while helping scientists generate evidence that could transform treatment during future outbreaks.
The randomized controlled trial is open to patients of all ages with laboratory-confirmed Bundibugyo virus disease.
The study is being conducted in partnership with the Ministry of Public Health of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, ALIMA (The Alliance for International Medical Action), and emergency response teams from Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF). An independent Data and Safety Monitoring Board will regularly review trial findings to ensure participant safety and scientific integrity.
DRC Minister of Health Dr. Samuel Roger Kamba described the launch of the trial as an important milestone in the country’s response to the outbreak.
He said the study reflects the DRC’s commitment to science-driven public health interventions and could lead to more effective treatment options that save lives during the current epidemic while strengthening global preparedness for future Ebola outbreaks.
Why the trial matters
The PARTNERS trial represents one of the most significant international research efforts targeting the Bundibugyo strain of Ebola virus. Beyond evaluating treatments for the current outbreak, it is designed to become a sustainable research platform capable of rapidly testing therapies during future outbreaks of Ebola and Marburg virus disease.
If successful, the findings could help close one of the most significant gaps in Ebola care by providing the first evidence-based treatment for Bundibugyo virus disease and improving survival among affected populations.
What is Bundibugyo virus disease?
Bundibugyo virus disease is a rare form of Ebola virus disease caused by the Bundibugyo ebolavirus, one of several species within the Ebola virus family. It spreads through direct contact with infected body fluids or contaminated materials and can cause sudden fever, severe weakness, vomiting, diarrhoea, internal and external bleeding, and multiple organ complications. Early diagnosis, isolation, supportive clinical care, and infection prevention measures remain the cornerstone of outbreak control while scientists continue searching for effective antiviral therapies.
