Clinical trials of Ebola drug to start in West Africa

Doctors Without Borders (MSF), a medical aid group, has announced that clinical trials of the Ebola virus drugs will be launched in three of its Ebola treatment centers in West Africa starting December.

In a statement released on Thursday, MSF said the distinct studies will be conducted by different research partners, and aims at identifying effective treatment of the virus, which has so far caused deaths of over 5,000 people in the West African region.

The French Institute for Health and Medical Research will conduct clinical trials on the "antiviral favipiravir" in Guinea's Gueckedou region.

The Antwerp Institute of Tropical Medicine will conduct a second study in Conakry using blood and plasma therapies derived from the antibodies of recovered Ebola patients.

The Oxford University will conduct the third study, at a yet to be determined center, on behalf of the International Consortium of Severe Acute Respiratory and Emerging Infections. The study will look at the efficacy of antiviral drug brincidofovir, and will be funded by Wellcome Trust.

The World Health Organization (WHO) and the health authorities of affected countries will participate in this collective efforts.

"This is an unprecedented international partnership that represents hope for patients to finally get real treatment against this disease that kills between 50 to 80 percent of infected people," Annick Antierens from MSF said in a statement.

The two drugs, brincidofovir and favipiravir, have been chosen by WHO on the list of potential Ebola drugs, after careful examination of their efficacy, availability of the products and the ease for them to be administered to patients.

"We must remember that there's no guarantee that the therapies will be miracle treatments," Antierens explained.

In Guinea, the latest statistics show that 1,919 people have been infected with the Ebola virus, out of which 1,166 have died.