The World Health Organization (WHO) said on Thursday that a clinical trial of two therapeutics had begun enrolling patients in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DR Congo) to evaluate potential treatments for the Bundibugyo Ebola strain.
WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus told a media briefing that the trial will evaluate the monoclonal antibody MBP134 and the antiviral drug remdesivir -- both alone and in combination -- to determine whether they can improve survival among patients diagnosed with Bundibugyo virus disease.
Patients enrolled will receive "comprehensive supportive care and close follow-up," Tedros said, adding that WHO is working to ensure access to the drugs should they prove safe and effective.
Meanwhile, Vasee Moorthy, acting lead for the Research and Development Blueprint in WHO's Office of the Chief Scientist, cautioned that it could take months and even go into next year to get the results, and more than 1,000 patients may need to be enrolled before a definitive answer emerges, or it could be earlier if there's a very high efficacy from the trial.
The trial came as the epidemic continues to expand, with an average of 38 new confirmed cases every day for the past two weeks.
According to the latest data released by the DR Congo government on Thursday, Ebola cases in the country had risen to 1,460, including 447 deaths.
A total of 595 patients were currently in isolation or hospitalized, while 213 patients had recovered. The rate of contact follow-up across the three affected provinces stood at 82.7 percent, the data showed.
WHO begins clinical trial to evaluate potential Ebola treatments in DR Congo
WHO begins clinical trial to evaluate potential Ebola treatments in DR Congo
As the lingering U.S.-Iran conflict over the Strait of Hormuz disrupts global oil and gas supply, the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) forum's energy ministers met in Beijing Thursday to chart a way forward, on whether the region can turn the crisis into opportunities.
The disruption of the Strait of Hormuz since late February 2026 has caused the largest oil supply shock on record, with ongoing daily shortfalls in the multi-million-barrel range. This energy supply shock has exposed the structural vulnerabilities of the Asia-Pacific region, the world's largest energy-consuming area.
As the APEC host this year, China has taken an open and inclusive approach, creating a multilateral dialogue platform. At the current energy ministerial meeting, it is pushing for a full exchange of practical experience among economies and channeling shared wisdom into real cooperative results.
"Since the beginning of this year, navigation through the Strait of Hormuz has been disrupted. China has fully leveraged its energy production, supply and marketing system, actively strengthened cooperation with all other parties, and made important contributions to safeguarding global energy security," said Chinese Vice Premier Ding Xuexiang in addressing the meeting.
The APEC Energy Ministerial Meeting, returning to Beijing after a 12-year hiatus, took place at a critical juncture following this "stress test."
"From our end in Papua New Guinea, we face the impacts of the war in Iran. We are an import-based economy. It did affect us in a great way," said Conrad Kumul, a delegate from Papua New Guinea, on the sidelines of the meeting.
Yet, many see that crises can also serve as catalysts for energy transition.
"The idea now is to push very much forward with the energy transition, even more than before. Now actually, the oil prices are so high that the comparatively renewable energies are very low in price," said Steivan Defilla, president assistant of the APEC Sustainable Energy Center, a high-level international energy think tank led by China's National Energy Administration.
China will hold the 33rd APEC Economic Leaders' Meeting in Shenzhen, south China's Guangdong Province, in November, which marks the country's third time hosting the event following Shanghai in 2001 and Beijing in 2014.
APEC ministers explore new pathways for energy security amid Hormuz crisis
