Researchers have officially enrolled the first patients in a clinical trial to test treatments for the Bundibugyo strain of Ebola in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. The trial, which launched in early July 2026, aims to evaluate two intravenous drugs, remdesivir and MBP134, as death tolls from the current outbreak continue to rise.
Clinical Trial Launch at Bunia’s Evangelical Medical Centre
The clinical trial began in early July 2026 at the Evangelical Medical Centre in Bunia, the capital of Ituri province. The study is a collaborative effort involving the World Health Organization (WHO), the Democratic Republic of the Congo’s national biomedical research institute (INRB), Oxford University, and the Institute of Tropical Medicine in Antwerp, according to AP News.
The research evaluates two specific drugs: the antiviral remdesivir, manufactured by Gilead Sciences, and MBP134, a monoclonal antibody cocktail developed by Mapp Biopharmaceutical. While remdesivir was previously tested during the 2018 Ebola outbreak in the DRC, it showed limited effectiveness against the Zaire strain.
Experimental Drug Protocols and Research Objectives
Patients enrolled in the trial are randomly assigned to receive remdesivir, MBP134, a combination of both, or standard supportive care. Both experimental treatments are administered intravenously. MBP134 is delivered as a one-off infusion, while remdesivir requires a 10-day course of therapy.
Amanda Rojek, a physician scientist at the University of Oxford, stated, “One of the key lessons from recent outbreaks is that research needs to happen alongside the response, not after it.” Salim Abdool Karim, director of the Centre for the AIDS Programme of Research in South Africa, added, To start from scratch takes years. So we take existing medicines and see whether [they] can be repurposed.
Dr. Vasee Moorthy, the WHO’s research and development lead for the outbreak, stated that researchers will track survival rates for 28 days following the start of treatment.
Challenges to Containment and Community Trust
The clinical trial unfolds amidst a difficult environment for healthcare workers. As of 9 July 2026, officials recorded 1,792 confirmed cases and 625 deaths. Frontline workers, including those responsible for the safe burial of victims, have reported severe shortages of protective equipment and pay disputes that led some staff to halt work.
Community mistrust remains a substantial barrier to the medical response. Some residents expressed skepticism regarding the experimental trials. Nelson Dhebi, a shopkeeper in Bunia, suggested that research should involve elected officials before the broader public. Conversely, other residents view the trials as a necessary step. Audrey Tengetenge, a local resident, described the research as a light at the end of the tunnel
for a community struggling with the economic and social toll of the virus.
Future Expansion of Research Efforts
While the current trial is limited to the Evangelical Medical Centre in Bunia, officials plan to expand the research to additional sites once safety and logistical conditions permit. Professor Placide Mbala, the coordinator of laboratory activities for the outbreak, indicated that the research phase could last between three and six months. A secondary phase is expected to involve high-risk individuals, such as healthcare workers and close contacts of infected patients, according to AP News.
For those currently affected, the medical response remains focused on the immediate goals of isolation and supportive care. Health officials continue to emphasize the importance of contact tracing, though they acknowledge that low trust and population mobility have hampered efforts to fully contain the spread of the virus.
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