HOPE FOR GROUND ZERO-A POSSIBLE VACCINE IS HERE

In my previous article on Ebola in West Africa I introduced readers on the history of the viral disease and ways to avoid being infected. There was also a part which made mention of possible treatment under development. As of the time of posting this article, more than 2000 people had died since the outbreak in West Africa. Today several countries are finding ways to combat the deadly virus from going beyond control.

However there is always light where darkness is. As we speak several pharmaceutical companies, countries and research labs are trying to develop vaccines to combat the disease. However its effect is yet to be seen. With health experts saying about 60 percent of patients die from Ebola, efforts to develop a cure for the disease has been fast-tracked. In light of this the World Health Organization has condoned the use of such experimental drugs on compassionate grounds.

ZMAPP (a treatment drug) which researchers started development 10 years ago in the US is made up of three antibodies which prevent multiplication of the Ebola virus. The development was partially funded by their Defence department. The drug is developed from infected tobacco plants is later purified. However since it can only be developed from infected tobacco plants, they need to be specially grown to be infected which has lingered the production of the drug for mass production. The drug which is very effective in monkeys is yet to yield positive results in humans, although doctors say health workers that have received the vaccine have being discharged, they fear that they may not be totally cured. In light of this the US government has donated US$42.3M to help accelerate testing.

TKM-EBOLA (a treatment drug) is being developed by Canadian Pharmaceutical Company Tekmira. The drug works by interfering with the virus, effectively killing infected cells. The drug which is being developed under contract with the US defence department at US$140M appears to be also effective in monkeys. Human trials were suspended last July due to the flu-like responses after it was tested in humans in high doses. Despite this the drug has being cleared to be used on compassionate grounds since the outbreak.

AVIGAN, a general antiviral developed by Fujifilm Corporation in Japan is currently approved for treating influenza. However test in mice shows that it could help reduce levels of the virus in affected persons. The company has offered to provide enough drugs for 20,000 people.

BCX-4430 is developed in the US by BioCryst as an antiviral spectrum to interfere with the multiplication of viruses. Although not designed to combat Ebola virus, the US government has committed US$2.4M for testing to begin in primates.

VRC207 is a vaccine being tested in humans in the US. It is developed by drug giant GlaxoSmithKline (GSK). The vaccine was developed based on a chimpanzee cold virus which delivers a protein from the Ebola virus into the body. This prompts an immune response, without infecting the subjects with the Ebola virus. The drug giant has said that if on-going test is proven safe it will donate 10,000 doses to curtail the virus in West Africa.

J&J COMBINATION, developed by Johnson & Johnson is expected to be tested on humans early next year. The drug which combines two ingredients, one which primes and the other boosting the body’s immune response. The drug has however proven effective on monkeys. The drug however can quickly be manufactured if found effective in humans as each component can be separately produced.

VSV-EBOV developed by scientist at the Canadian National Microbiology Lab, is effective on monkeys after exposure to the virus. Although scientists are yet to determine how it works, human trials are expected to begin later in October. Its partner company NewLinks Genetics says it could produce as many as 10,000 by the end of this year. Last month the company offered to send 800 and 1000 doses of the drugs to be used on compassionate grounds in affected regions, although those drugs are yet to be delivered.

Last night, experts from WHO at a meeting in Geneva said the quickest and safest measure against Ebola could be the use of blood from people who have recovered from Ebola to treat infected patients. The idea behind it is that the antibodies in the blood of the survivor can help sick patients fight of the infection.

In light of all these drug development a lot of challenges have handicapped efforts to contain the disease. Health workers have complained of inadequate safety materials and logistical constraints in battling the disease. This was evident in Liberia where a whole health facility has being abandoned. All we can hope and do is to be calm, whiles we await for health workers and researchers to put an end to this virus that is posing a great threat to affected regions.

Let’s all remember our affected neighbors in prayer.

REFERENCING

1. Ebola: What hope for a cure?- Al Jazeera English – (3/09/2014)

2. The World Health Organization meeting in Geneva on 5^th September, 2014 - Efforts to find a cure