MOSCOW (Sputnik) — Scientists from Vancouver-based Tekmira Pharmaceuticals Corporation claimed the first successful treatment for the current outbreak of the deadly Ebolavirus as three macaques recovered after receiving a new vaccine, the Australian reported Wednesday.
Following the successful trial of the new Ebola vaccine, dubbed TKM-Ebola-Guinea, human treatments in Sierra Leone have began, conducted by a group of scientists headed by professor Thomas Geisbert from the University of Texas.
“We can never say with 100 per cent certainty that results in primates will translate to humans. But historically the results have translated well,” Geisbert told the Australian, adding that he is optimistic about the human trials prospects.
The full study results were published in the Nature journal of science.
Developers say the new drug, which is based on “RNA interference,” can be produced in eight weeks. RNA-based therapeutics, according to the scientists, have the potential to treat various illnesses by “silencing” disease-causing genes.
Ebola is a deadly disease that spreads through direct contact with the bodily fluids of an infected person, or though contact with contaminated clothing or possessions.
The current Ebola outbreak began in West Africa in the end of 2013, mostly affecting Guinea, Liberia and Sierra Leone.
As of April 21, Ebola has killed over 10,500 people with more than 25,500 cases of the disease registered, according to the WHO.
Russia, the United States, the United Kingdom, Canada and Japan are currently working on developing Ebola vaccine.
