The Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) has appealed for $18 million in emergency funding to support clinical trials of experimental Ebola treatments in the Democratic Republic of Congo, warning that delays could undermine efforts to contain the outbreak.
According to Reuters, the trials are scheduled to begin this week in Bunia, the capital of Ituri Province, where the first cases involving the Bundibugyo strain of Ebola were confirmed.
The funding request comes as health authorities intensify efforts to curb the spread of the disease and advance scientific research aimed at improving treatment outcomes.
The latest appeal also reflects Africa CDC’s growing emphasis under Director-General Dr. Jean Kaseya on strengthening Africa’s capacity to lead disease surveillance, emergency response, and scientific innovation during public health crises.
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According to Reuters, the programme will evaluate Gilead Sciences’ oral antiviral drug obeldesivir as a preventive treatment for individuals exposed to the virus.
Researchers will also assess the effectiveness of remdesivir and an antibody therapy developed by Mapp Biopharmaceuticals in reducing mortality among infected patients.
Reuters reported that the initiative includes efforts to accelerate the development and manufacturing of next-generation vaccines specifically designed for the Bundibugyo strain of Ebola.
While funding for vaccine-related studies has largely been secured, Africa CDC noted that therapeutic trials remain significantly underfunded.
“We have the science. We now need the funding to use it. Clinical trials must start this week, and every day of delay costs lives we could save,” Dr. Jean Kaseya said, according to Reuters.
The organisation has called on governments, development banks, philanthropic institutions, and global partners to urgently mobilise $16 million to sustain the obeldesivir study, alongside an additional $2 million to $3 million to support contact tracing activities.
What This Means For Africa
The appeal highlights the growing importance of strengthening Africa’s capacity to respond rapidly to emerging health threats through locally driven research, innovation, and clinical trials.
Under the leadership of Dr. Jean Kaseya, Africa CDC has increasingly advocated for greater health sovereignty across the continent, emphasising the need for African-led solutions to epidemic preparedness and response.
Reuters reported that Africa CDC is collaborating with organisations including the World Health Organization, the International AIDS Vaccine Initiative, and the Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations in what it described as one of the fastest scientific responses mounted against a newly emerging Ebola strain.
The Democratic Republic of Congo has experienced several Ebola outbreaks over the years, but the emergence of the Bundibugyo strain presents new challenges that require accelerated research and treatment development.
Beyond the immediate outbreak response, the initiative reflects broader efforts to build resilient health systems capable of managing future epidemics through increased investment in science, research, and pharmaceutical manufacturing.
For Africa, the success of these trials could contribute significantly to reducing mortality rates, improving outbreak preparedness, and reinforcing the continent’s long-term health security agenda.
As clinical trials commence in Bunia, attention will increasingly focus on whether governments and international partners can provide the resources needed to ensure that scientific advances translate into timely and effective healthcare interventions.
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Image Credit: CPHIA
