Ebola cure: Tekmira gets go ahead to test new drug on Ebola patients
The US drug regulator has given the go ahead for pharmaceutical firm Tekmira to test a drug on humans that could be a potential treatment for the deadly and incurable disease.
The FDA will allow TKM-Ebola to be used in response to the deadliest ever outbreak of the disease after halting the first phase of clinical trials earlier this month.
Tekmira chief and president Dr Mark Murray welcomed the news.
"We are pleased that the FDA has considered the risk-reward of TKM-Ebola for infected patients. We have been closely watching the Ebola virus outbreak and its consequences, and we are willing to assist with any responsible use of TKM-Ebola. The foresight shown by the FDA removes one potential roadblock to doing so.
"This current outbreak underscores the critical need for effective therapeutic agents to treat the Ebola virus. We recognize the heightened urgency of this situation, and are carefully evaluating options for use of our investigational drug within accepted clinical and regulatory protocols."
The treatment is being developed with the US government’s biodefense unit which develops medical solutions to counter chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear threats.
The drug was successful in treating monkeys exposed to the disease in preclinical trials but requires three stages of testing in humans to gain full approval as a safe treatment.
With approval from the FDA, Tekmira can now continue with the human trials.