Unlike most previous outbreaks of Ebola disease, the current outbreak in Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) is caused by the Bundibugyo virus, and there are very few medical tools available to fight it.
Doctors Without Borders/Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF), along with other medical organizations involved in the Ebola disease outbreak response, is actively supporting a clinical trial called PARTNERS, which evaluates the safety and efficacy of the remdesivir and MBP134 therapies for this virus.
Dr. Olivier Kasita is a physician working at MSF’s Elikya Ebola treatment center in Bunia, Ituri province, where MSF teams have been working since the start of the outbreak. He has been directly involved in the care of patients throughout the response. Here, Dr. Kasita explains what the PARTNERS clinical trial aims to achieve, and MSF's role in its implementation.
1 | Two promising treatments are being tested
The PARTNERS trial is a World Health Organization (WHO)-sponsored international clinical research trial conducted through close collaboration between national health authorities, research institutions, outbreak response partners, and international organizations. It aims to rapidly generate high-quality evidence on the safety and efficacy of two promising treatments, MBP134 and remdesivir, for patients who test positive for Bundibugyo virus disease.
Bundibugyo virus: Why this Ebola disease outbreak is different
Learn moreParticipants who volunteer to join the trial are randomly assigned to one of four study groups: One receives both MBP134 and remdesivir, one receives MBP134 alone, one receives remdesivir alone, and one receives the current standard of care without either investigational treatment. This randomized design allows researchers to compare outcomes across groups and determine whether the treatments provide a meaningful benefit.
This study gives patients a chance to receive one of the treatments that researchers believe may work better than the current standard. Three out of every four patients (75 patients) enrolled in the study will receive one of these promising treatments. By taking part, patients may benefit from the treatment, while also helping doctors learn which treatment works best, which could save more lives and help stop the outbreak.
2 | The trial is taking place at MSF-supported Ebola treatment centers
MSF is participating in the PARTNERS trial as a clinical trial site. This means that the study is being implemented within MSF-supported Ebola treatment centers, where eligible patients can be informed about the research and offered the opportunity to enroll on a voluntary basis.
MSF is contributing to the trial and caring for participating patients [and administering the treatments being studied], while the study protocol is developed and led by the WHO and its research partners. MSF does not oversee the trial design or make decisions regarding patient allocation or treatment strategies. However, as an operational partner, MSF is involved in operational recommendations and the review of emerging data and findings.
At present, the trial is being conducted at MSF's Elikya treatment center in Bunia, Ituri province, DRC, where research activities are integrated into the outbreak response and patient care provided by MSF teams.
3 | Successful results could transform the way future outbreaks are managed
The primary goal of the PARTNERS trial is to determine whether MBP134, remdesivir, or both are safe and effective treatments. If the trial demonstrates a clear clinical benefit, it could provide the robust evidence needed for these therapies to be recommended by health authorities, licensed by regulatory agencies, and made more widely available to at-risk communities during future outbreaks.
In the longer term, successful results could transform the way future outbreaks are managed, adding proven Ebola-specific therapies to the general care that is currently available. This would represent a significant step forward in both outbreak response and patient care in affected communities.
