The Evolution of Medical Countermeasures for Ebola Virus Disease: Lessons Learned and Next Steps

Abstract

The Ebola virus disease outbreak that occurred in Western Africa from 2013–2016, and subsequent smaller but increasingly frequent outbreaks of Ebola virus disease in recent years, spurred an unprecedented effort to develop and deploy effective vaccines, therapeutics, and diagnostics. This effort led to the U.S. regulatory approval of a diagnostic test, two vaccines, and two therapeutics for Ebola virus disease indications. Moreover, the establishment of fieldable diagnostic tests improved the speed with which patients can be diagnosed and public health resources mobilized. The United States government has played and continues to play a key role in funding and coordinating these medical countermeasure efforts. Here, we describe the coordinated U.S. government response to develop medical countermeasures for Ebola virus disease and we identify lessons learned that may improve future efforts to develop and deploy effective countermeasures against other filoviruses, such as Sudan virus and Marburg virus.

Analysis of Human Genes Associated with Ebola using Online Bioinformatics Tools

“…The Ebola virus is a member of the Zaire ebolavirus species, with a case fatality rate of 42.2%. The CpG pattern (5′-GTCGTT-3′) is more prominent in the Zaire ebolavirus, and the GC content is higher in locations 2,000 to 2,399 in the genome of Zaire ebolavirus than in any other regions [6], [7].…”

Ebanga™: The most recent FDA-approved drug for treating Ebola

“…Determining the synergistic effects of combining two mAbs for the treatment of EVD is challenging, and this combined approach has not been investigated in a clinical or laboratory trial ( Crozier et al, 2022 ). Therefore, it is crucial to investigate the non-interference of the proposed products (ansuvimab and REGN-EB3) with important safety signals ( Finch et al, 2021 ).…”

Global Ophthalmic Health Initiatives in Ebola and Emerging Infectious Disease Outbreaks: Implications for Vision Health Systems, Program Implementation, and Disease Surveillance

“…31 Moreover, the paucity of supportive care and medical countermeasures during the response to the West Africa outbreak differ from the clinical trials and compassionate use protocols utilized in more recent outbreaks in the DRC. [32][33][34] These considerations emphasize an urgent need for systems strengthening to improve systemic health and vision outcomes. '…”

“…There is also a reported shortage of medical personnel exacerbated by the aftermath of the EVD outbreak, which led to the deaths of 21% of Sierra Leone’s health workforce 31. Moreover, the paucity of supportive care and medical countermeasures during the response to the West Africa outbreak differ from the clinical trials and compassionate use protocols utilized in more recent outbreaks in the DRC 32–34. These considerations emphasize an urgent need for systems strengthening to improve systemic health and vision outcomes.…”