What is ZMapp?
ZMapp, being developed by Mapp Biopharmaceutical Inc., is an experimental treatment, for use with individuals infected with Ebola virus. It has not yet been tested in humans for safety or effectiveness. The product is a combination of three different monoclonal antibodies that bind to the protein of the Ebola virus.
How effective is the experimental treatment?
It is too early to know whether ZMapp is effective, since it is still in an experimental stage and has not yet been tested in humans for safety or effectiveness. Some patients infected with Ebola virus do get better spontaneously or with supportive care. It’s important to note that the standard treatment for Ebola remains supportive therapy.
This consists of the following measures:
balancing the patients’ fluids and electrolytes;
maintaining their oxygen status and blood pressure; and
treating them for any complicating infections.
Why aren’t more people getting ZMapp?
At this time, very few courses of this experimental treatment have been manufactured. Since the product is still in an experimental stage, it is too early to know whether ZMapp is effective. The manufacturer of this experimental treatment continues to research and evaluate the product’s safety and effectiveness. It has not yet been tested in humans for safety or effectiveness and much more study is needed.
Did the NIH play a role in getting the experimental therapy to the two U.S. patients in Liberia?
This experimental treatment was arranged privately by Samaritan’s Purse, the private humanitarian organization, which employed one of the Americans who contracted the virus in Liberia. Samaritan’s Purse contacted the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), who referred them to the National Institutes of Health (NIH). NIH was able to provide the organization with the appropriate contacts at the private company developing this treatment. The NIH was not involved with procuring, transporting, approving, or administering the experimental treatments. {But they did not stop the drug from being transmitted and given – aka: turned away and is not enforcing its own regulations to protect the public – there is a procedure to ask for and quickly get emergency experimental treatment|
via Q & A On Experimental Treatments and Vaccines for Ebola | Ebola Hemorrhagic Fever | CDC.
You must be logged in to post a comment.