Ebanga Becomes Second FDA-Approved Ebola Drug

December 21, 2020 – The U.S. FDA has approved EbangaTM (ansuvimab), manufactured by Ridgeback Pharmaceuticals, to treat Zaire ebolavirus infection (Ebola) in adults and children. Ebanga is the second drug approved by the FDA to treat Ebola.

Ebola is a life-threatening viral disease transmitted through contact with the bodily fluids of infected humans and animals, or through contact with surfaces and materials contaminated with these fluids. The virus damages the body’s immune system and internal organs, and can cause severe hemorrhage. Ebanga is a monoclonal antibody that blocks the virus from entering the body’s cells, thus helping to prevent its spread through the body’s tissues.

In a clinical trial, patients treated with Ebanga were more likely to be alive 28 days after the start of treatment than patients who received an investigational control medication. In the Ebanga group, 35.1% of patients had died after 28 days, versus 49.4% of patients who received the control. Recommended dosing for Ebanga is a single 50mg/kg of body weight intravenous infusion.

Commercial launch and pricing plans are not available. However, Ridgeback Pharmaceuticals has stated it intends to continue making Ebanga – which was being distributed under compassionate use protocol to patients in the Democratic Republic of the Congo in 2020 – available to those who need it.