Ebola: Clinical drug trials to start next month in West Africa

Clinical trials of experimental Ebola treatment will start next month in West Africa as the regional death toll from the deadly virus surpasses 5,000. Doctors Without Borders will
conduct trials at three treatment centers in Guinea and Liberia, the medical aid agency announced Thursday.

One trial will treat infected patients with the antiviral drug brincidofovir at a medical center in the Liberian capital of Monrovia.

In a second trial, patients will get the antiviral drug Favipiravir in the southern town of Gueckedou in Guinea.

A third trial in the Guinean capital of Conakry will focus on giving patients blood transfusions from Ebola survivors, a method recommended by the World Health Organization.

There is currently no cure or vaccine for Ebola, which has killed thousands in Liberia, Guinea and Sierra Leone -- the three nations most affected.

Clinical trials led by three research groups will focus on finding an effective therapy against the disease.

"This is an unprecedented international partnership which represents hope for patients to finally get a real treatment against a disease that today kills between 50 and 80% of those infected," said Dr. Annick Antierens of Doctors Without Borders.