Impact of most promising Ebola therapies on survival: a secondary analysis during the tenth outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo

Abstract Background MAb114, REGN-EB3, Remdesivir, and ZMapp, which are monoclonal antibody-based treatments, have been compared and shown to be promising therapies against the Ebola Virus Disease (EVD). There has been no comparison between these medications and standard treatment (without antiviral)...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Esther Mamu Kikwango, Pierre Z. Akilimali, Nguyen Toan Tran
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: BMC 2025-05-01
Series:Virology Journal
Subjects:
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1186/s12985-025-02766-y
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
_version_ 1849326691500949504
author Esther Mamu Kikwango
Pierre Z. Akilimali
Nguyen Toan Tran
author_facet Esther Mamu Kikwango
Pierre Z. Akilimali
Nguyen Toan Tran
author_sort Esther Mamu Kikwango
collection DOAJ
description Abstract Background MAb114, REGN-EB3, Remdesivir, and ZMapp, which are monoclonal antibody-based treatments, have been compared and shown to be promising therapies against the Ebola Virus Disease (EVD). There has been no comparison between these medications and standard treatment (without antiviral). Our study aimed to examine the contribution of each regimen compared to standard treatment on the survival of EVD patients and assess whether this association was modified by EVD vaccination (rVSV-ZEBOV Ebola vaccine) status. Methodology: We performed a secondary analysis study using retrospective cohort data obtained from four EVD treatment centers located in Katwa, Mangina, Butembo, and Beni in the North Kivu region. The main outcome measure was mortality within a 28-day period among 781 included patients. A Cox model was used to identify predictors of survival in hospitalized EVD patients. Results: Vaccinated EVD patients were 1.7 times less likely to die compared to unvaccinated patients (3.70 days vs. 5.00 days; p = 0.0002). Delaying care and treatment at EVD treatment centres increased mortality risk by 5% for each day following symptom onset. Compared to the standard treatment group, adjusted mortality rates were significantly reduced in the groups receiving MAb114 (0.27, p < 0.001), REGN-EB3 (0.26, p < 0.001), and Remdesivir (0.38, p = 0.005). ZMapp also showed a reduction, though with borderline statistical significance (0.47, p = 0.032). Conclusions: Prompt identification and treatment, along with enhanced supportive care (such as replenishing fluids and electrolytes and managing symptoms), significantly improve survival chances. Concurrently, administering vaccines and using mAb114, REGN-EB3, and, to some extent, Remdesivir further increase patient survival rates.
format Article
id doaj-art-3acdaedb504a45259de5d0ef4b51acdd
institution Kabale University
issn 1743-422X
language English
publishDate 2025-05-01
publisher BMC
record_format Article
series Virology Journal
spelling doaj-art-3acdaedb504a45259de5d0ef4b51acdd2025-08-20T03:48:05ZengBMCVirology Journal1743-422X2025-05-012211910.1186/s12985-025-02766-yImpact of most promising Ebola therapies on survival: a secondary analysis during the tenth outbreak in the Democratic Republic of CongoEsther Mamu Kikwango0Pierre Z. Akilimali1Nguyen Toan Tran2Field Epidemiology training program, Kinshasa School of Public Health, University of KinshasaDepartment of Nutrition, Kinshasa School of Public Health, University of KinshasaAustralian Center for Public and Population Health Research, Faculty of Health, University of TechnologyAbstract Background MAb114, REGN-EB3, Remdesivir, and ZMapp, which are monoclonal antibody-based treatments, have been compared and shown to be promising therapies against the Ebola Virus Disease (EVD). There has been no comparison between these medications and standard treatment (without antiviral). Our study aimed to examine the contribution of each regimen compared to standard treatment on the survival of EVD patients and assess whether this association was modified by EVD vaccination (rVSV-ZEBOV Ebola vaccine) status. Methodology: We performed a secondary analysis study using retrospective cohort data obtained from four EVD treatment centers located in Katwa, Mangina, Butembo, and Beni in the North Kivu region. The main outcome measure was mortality within a 28-day period among 781 included patients. A Cox model was used to identify predictors of survival in hospitalized EVD patients. Results: Vaccinated EVD patients were 1.7 times less likely to die compared to unvaccinated patients (3.70 days vs. 5.00 days; p = 0.0002). Delaying care and treatment at EVD treatment centres increased mortality risk by 5% for each day following symptom onset. Compared to the standard treatment group, adjusted mortality rates were significantly reduced in the groups receiving MAb114 (0.27, p < 0.001), REGN-EB3 (0.26, p < 0.001), and Remdesivir (0.38, p = 0.005). ZMapp also showed a reduction, though with borderline statistical significance (0.47, p = 0.032). Conclusions: Prompt identification and treatment, along with enhanced supportive care (such as replenishing fluids and electrolytes and managing symptoms), significantly improve survival chances. Concurrently, administering vaccines and using mAb114, REGN-EB3, and, to some extent, Remdesivir further increase patient survival rates.https://doi.org/10.1186/s12985-025-02766-yPromising therapiesEbola virus diseaseZMappRemdesivirREGN EB3mAb114
spellingShingle Esther Mamu Kikwango
Pierre Z. Akilimali
Nguyen Toan Tran
Impact of most promising Ebola therapies on survival: a secondary analysis during the tenth outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo
Virology Journal
Promising therapies
Ebola virus disease
ZMapp
Remdesivir
REGN EB3
mAb114
title Impact of most promising Ebola therapies on survival: a secondary analysis during the tenth outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo
title_full Impact of most promising Ebola therapies on survival: a secondary analysis during the tenth outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo
title_fullStr Impact of most promising Ebola therapies on survival: a secondary analysis during the tenth outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo
title_full_unstemmed Impact of most promising Ebola therapies on survival: a secondary analysis during the tenth outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo
title_short Impact of most promising Ebola therapies on survival: a secondary analysis during the tenth outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo
title_sort impact of most promising ebola therapies on survival a secondary analysis during the tenth outbreak in the democratic republic of congo
topic Promising therapies
Ebola virus disease
ZMapp
Remdesivir
REGN EB3
mAb114
url https://doi.org/10.1186/s12985-025-02766-y
work_keys_str_mv AT esthermamukikwango impactofmostpromisingebolatherapiesonsurvivalasecondaryanalysisduringthetenthoutbreakinthedemocraticrepublicofcongo
AT pierrezakilimali impactofmostpromisingebolatherapiesonsurvivalasecondaryanalysisduringthetenthoutbreakinthedemocraticrepublicofcongo
AT nguyentoantran impactofmostpromisingebolatherapiesonsurvivalasecondaryanalysisduringthetenthoutbreakinthedemocraticrepublicofcongo