TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Two US patients infected with Ebola virus in Africa undergoing treatment trials with ZMapp. Both patients were, as reported by the site International Business Times, Thursday, August 5th, 2014, was Dr. Branty Kent and Nancy Writebol. ZMapp produced by the NII Mapp Biopharmaceutical Inc., San Diego, USA. Although it is considered a potential drug to treat Ebola, ZMapp has not been tested clinically in humans.
"This drug is actually still in the process of research or experimentation. Its safety in humans have not been studied and new never tested on monkeys, "said Professor Tjandra Yoga Aditama, Head of Research and Development of Health, Ministry of Health, in a release on Thursday, August 7, 2014." It is used in patients with these two as yet there are other options. "(Read: Transmission of Ebola to Indonesia)
Ebola virus of the genus triggered by Ebolavirus. People who are infected with this virus will develop symptoms include vomiting, diarrhea, bleeding inside and outside, as well as fever. Disease whose name citing the name of the Ebola River in Congo, Africa, where the disease first appeared in 1976, can be transmitted through direct contact with body fluids or skin of the patient.
According Tjandra, ZMapp contains three types of monoclonal antibodies that are processed in plants, among others Nicotiana benthamania. This plant is a special type of tobacco leaf used for research agroinfiltration. In the study, recombinant agrobacterium used to insert new genetic material into the plant. ZMapp also a cocktail combination of several other drugs, namely MB-003 and ZMab.
"The mechanism of action is not fully known ZMapp. Might inhibit viruses reproduce themselves or perform neutralization of the virus, "said Tjandra. To be recognized efficacy and safety as well as widespread use, he continued, then this drug still requires the research process, namely the clinical trial phase 1, phase 2 and phase 3.
So far, the results of treatment of patients with these two pretty good. In this case, according to Tjandra, there are two possibilities occur. First, the experimental drug to give results or both, the patient was indeed classified in 40% of patients are cured Ebola. Because, according to available data, approximately 60% of patients died of Ebola today. That means, approximately 40% are indeed cured. "The obvious answer is still in need of careful study," said Tjandra