United States sends experimental Ebola treatment to DRC for the first time

The treatment, known as MBP134, is developed by the American biotechnology company Mapp Biopharmaceutical. Previously, the drug had been reserved exclusively for Americans considered at high risk of Ebola exposure. However, Washington has now authorized its use in a clinical trial involving Ebola patients in the DRC.

A spokesperson for the U.S. Department of Health stated that the doses are being provided on humanitarian grounds and to accelerate research into the treatment’s effectiveness against the Bundibugyo strain of Ebola, for which there is currently no approved vaccine or treatment.

Although the U.S. government did not disclose the number of doses shipped, officials said data collected during the trial could help determine whether the treatment should be approved for wider use in the future.

The World Health Organization (WHO) confirmed that doses of MBP134, along with other experimental treatments, have begun arriving in the DRC. Health authorities are currently preparing procedures for enrolling patients in the clinical study.

According to the latest figures, as of June 21, 2026, a total of 1,048 people had been infected with Ebola in the DRC, while 267 deaths had been recorded. Meanwhile, 112 patients have recovered and been discharged from medical facilities.

Health officials hope that the ongoing trials will provide valuable evidence on the safety and effectiveness of MBP134 and contribute to strengthening the response to the Ebola outbreak in the DRC.