MSF discusses treatment approaches and its role in therapeutic drug trials

Below are excerpts from a longer discussion here. 

As one of the main providers of Ebola treatment in West Africa, MSF has chosen to take an active role in trialling experimental treatments. We add value to the trial process as we have access to large numbers of patients and therefore potential recipients of the experimental treatments. MSF will work in collaboration with organisations, academics, companies, the Ministries of Health in the affected countries and the WHO in order to implement fast-tracked clinical trials for some of the new treatments for Ebola at existing treatment sites. Experimental treatments are currently being selected and trial designs are being developed to ensure that disruption to patient care is minimal, that medical and research ethics are respected, and that sound scientific data is produced. MSF does not usually engage in research and trials for drug development, but faced with this massive outbreak, we’re taking exceptional measures...

The two most promising candidate vaccines have been identified as one developed by GlaxoSmithKline (GSK) and a second developed at the Public Health Agency of Canada in Winnipeg. There are other vaccines in development, however, and they should also be pushed through the pipeline as quickly as possible.

There are a handful of experimental treatments that also look promising, but that haven’t yet been tested for safety and efficacy in humans. The WHO has identified a number of these treatments and compiled them on a pre-selection list. As mentioned above, a number of these treatments are being selected to be tested in clinical trials. The treatments vary in type and include monoclonal antibodies, small inhibitory RNA, and antivirals...