A study
released last week has indicated that the experimental Ebola treatment ZMapp
has promising potential in treating patients of the deadly viral disease.
The study
findings show that the drug sharply increases the chance of surviving virus,
according to details released at last week’s medical conference in the US.
ZMapp was one
of about half a dozen experimental drugs deployed during the epidemic for
trial. But researchers were frustrated by dwindling cases when the epidemic
halted so that there weren’t enough patients to administer drugs on.
The ZMapp
study involves 72 patients, out of the 200 originally planned. It found that 22
percent of participants given ZMapp died, compared
with 37 percent of participants
receiving standard treatments.
But
researchers say because so few people were tested, the results could have
occurred by chance. Nonetheless the US National Institute of Allergy and
Infectious Diseases, which is a co-sponsor of the study, described the drug as
"well tolerated and showed promise."
ZMapp is a
combination of three genetically engineered antibodies — substances that help
direct the immune system's attack on invading germs. The antibodies were
produced from tobacco plants.
The drug was
developed by Mapp Biopharmaceuticals.
And the US
Food and Drug Administration has reportedly cleared the manufacturer to make
its drug available to any future patients as needed.
"Having a
therapeutic option available for Ebola will help motivate patients to come to
treatment units, reducing opportunities for infection in the community,"
Dr. Armand Sprecher of Doctors Without Borders was quoted saying.
Out of the
total participants, majority 54 were from Sierra Leone. 12 were from Guinea,
five from Liberia, and One from the US.
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