New drug cleared for compassionate use in Bundibugyo Ebola Virus treatment
“We have issued administrative clearance for deployment of the molecules for compassionate use of Galidesivir — a broad-spectrum antiviral for the treatment of patients infected with Bundibugyo Ebola,” said Dr Rony Reginald Bahatungire, the acting commissioner of clinical services at the health ministry.
Dr Charles Olaro, the director general of health services at the health ministry, said Galidesivir is one of several investigational broad-spectrum antiviral medicines included in the Ministry of Health-sponsored adaptive Monitored Emergency Use of Unregistered and Investigational Interventions (MEURI) protocol. (Credit: Agnes Kyotalengerire)
A new drug, Galidesivir, has been cleared for compassionate use for patients infected with Bundibugyo Ebola Virus, which broke out in DR Congo in mid-May this year.
“We have issued administrative clearance for deployment of the molecules for compassionate use of Galidesivir — a broad-spectrum antiviral for the treatment of patients infected with Bundibugyo Ebola,” said Dr Rony Reginald Bahatungire, the acting commissioner of clinical services at the health ministry.
Currently, there are no approved vaccines or treatments available for the Bundibugyo Ebola Virus.
Dr Charles Olaro, the director general of health services at the health ministry, said Galidesivir is one of several investigational broad-spectrum antiviral medicines included in the Ministry of Health-sponsored adaptive Monitored Emergency Use of Unregistered and Investigational Interventions (MEURI) protocol.
These medicines may be offered on a compassionate use basis during outbreaks when no approved treatments are available as potential life-saving interventions.
To be cleared for compassionate use, it means the drug works, has a safe side effect profile (is acceptable) and is effective for a particular disease.
Dr Henry Bossa Kyobe the incident commander Mpox addressing journalists on Mpox updates at the MOH on Friday. (Credit: Agnes Kyotalengerire)
The development comes after Island Pharmaceuticals Ltd received regulatory and ethics approvals for the compassionate use of Galidesivir early this week.
Dr Henry Bosa Kyobe, the incident commander at the health ministry, said Uganda is currently using a sister drug dubbed Remdesivir, which is in the same category approved under the adaptive MEURI protocol.
No new case
Currently, only two patients are still under treatment, and are both expected to be discharged this week, according to health ministry.
Since the latest outbreak, Uganda has recorded 20 confirmed Ebola cases and two deaths.
Ebola is a rare, severe, and often fatal viral illness in humans and nonhuman primates.
The signs and symptoms of the disease include sudden onset of fever, fatigue, muscle pain, headache, vomiting, diarrhoea, yellow eyes, and unexplained bleeding, which manifests as a late symptom.
The Ebola Bundibugyo strain was first detected between 2007 and 2008 in Uganda's Bundibugyo district. A total of 149 confirmed cases and 37 deaths were recorded at the time.
It was the first new Ebola species identified in decades.