WHO recommends use of two monoclonal antibody treatments against Ebola

The health body recommended use of treatments by Regeneron and Ridgeback Bio

The agency recommended use of Regeneron's Inmazeb (REGN-EB3) and Ridgeback Bio's Ebanga (mAb114), both monoclonal antibodies that mimic natural antibodies in fighting off infections. 

Ebola is a haemorrhagic fever that causes severe and often fatal illness affecting humans and other primates. The virus is transmitted to people from wild animals (such as fruit bats, porcupines and non-human primates) and then spreads in the human population through direct contact with the blood, secretions, organs or other bodily fluids of infected people, and with surfaces and materials contaminated with these fluids. The average case fatality rate sits at about 50%.  

‘Advances in supportive care and therapeutics over the past decade have revolutionised 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, co-chair of WHO's guideline development group.  

He noted that use of these treatments now leads to the recovery of the ‘vast majority’ of people from Ebola. The new recommendations follow trials of the drugs against Ebola in Democratic Republic of Congo during an outbreak there spanning 2018-2020.