WHO’s new Ebola treatment guideline has Sunnybrook connection

The World Health Organization (WHO) published its first guideline for Ebola virus disease therapeutics, with new strong recommendations for the use of monoclonal antibody treatments mAb114 (Ansuvimab; Ebanga) and REGN-EB3 (Inmazeb).

The new guideline has a Sunnybrook connection: Dr. Rob Fowler, critical care physician and Tory Trauma Program Chief at Sunnybrook, co-chaired the WHO’s guideline development group.

“Advances in supportive care and therapeutics over the past decade have revolutionized the treatment of Ebola. Ebola virus disease used to be perceived as a near certain killer. However, that is no longer the case,” says Dr. Fowler, who is also a professor in the department of medicine and interdepartmental division of critical care medicine at the University of Toronto.

“Provision of best supportive medical care to patients, combined with monoclonal antibody treatment—MAb114 or REGN-EB3—now leads to recovery for the vast majority of people,” he adds.

Ebola is a severe and too often fatal illness caused by the Ebola virus. Previous Ebola outbreaks and responses have shown that early diagnosis and treatment with optimized supportive care, with fluid and electrolyte repletion and treatment of symptoms, significantly improve survival.

Read the full release on the World Health Organization’s website.

Several Sunnybrook physicians and researchers have been involved in Ebola research and treatment over the past few years, both in Toronto and in West Africa. Learn more on our Your Health Matters blog.

Media contact:

Sybil Millar, Communications Advisor
Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre
sybil.millar@sunnybrook.ca