WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus announced Thursday that the first participant has been enrolled in the study, marking the start of a closely watched effort to identify therapies that could improve patient survival.

The Bundibugyo virus is one of several viruses capable of causing Ebola disease, but unlike some other Ebola strains, it currently has no approved vaccine or treatment specifically designed for it. According to WHO, more than 1,400 people have been diagnosed during the outbreak, while 438 have died. More than 200 patients have recovered after receiving supportive medical care, particularly when treatment began early.

Tedros said the trial represents an important opportunity to generate evidence while responding to the outbreak.

“The trial offers real hope that we can deliver concrete results for – and with – the communities at the heart of the outbreak,” he said in a statement.

Two Treatments Under Evaluation

Researchers will investigate whether either of two therapies can improve survival among Ebola patients.

One treatment is remdesivir, an antiviral drug developed by Gilead Sciences that is approved for treating COVID-19. Laboratory studies have suggested it may have activity against the Bundibugyo virus, although its effectiveness against this outbreak remains unproven.

The second treatment is MBP134, an experimental antibody therapy developed by Mapp Biopharmaceutical. The engineered antibodies are designed to target multiple Ebola viruses, including the Bundibugyo strain.

Under the study design, every participant will receive the current standard supportive care. Patients will then be randomly assigned to receive remdesivir, MBP134, both treatments together, or supportive care alone.

Dr. Vasee Moorthy, a WHO research adviser, said researchers will monitor survival for 28 days after treatment begins.

Trial Could Take Months

Health officials cautioned that determining whether either therapy is effective will require time.

Moorthy said the study could take several months and may require as many as 1,000 participants before researchers can determine whether one or both treatments improve outcomes. However, if either therapy demonstrates a particularly strong benefit, meaningful results could emerge sooner with fewer participants.

The trial is currently operating at a single Ebola treatment center in Congo’s Ituri province.

Security Challenges Continue

Expanding the study may depend on improving security conditions in eastern Congo, where armed violence has repeatedly disrupted healthcare operations.

The affected region has experienced attacks involving healthcare workers responding to the outbreak, complicating efforts to diagnose patients, provide treatment, and contain transmission of the virus, which spreads through direct contact with the bodily fluids of infected individuals.

Officials said they intend to extend the study to additional treatment centers once conditions allow.

International Collaboration Supports Research

WHO said sufficient supplies of both treatments have been donated for the trial. Gilead Sciences provided remdesivir, while doses of MBP134 are owned by the U.S. government, which funded research into the experimental therapy.

If either treatment proves effective, researchers said the next challenge will be ensuring patients can continue receiving the therapy beyond the clinical trial.

The study is supported by WHO and conducted through a partnership involving Congo’s National Institute for Biomedical Research (INRB), the University of Oxford, the Institute of Tropical Medicine in Antwerp, and other international health organizations.

Tags: Ebola, Bundibugyo Virus, Democratic Republic of Congo, World Health Organization, Clinical Trial, Remdesivir, MBP134, Infectious Diseases, Public Health, Ebola Treatment, Ituri Province, Medical Research

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On March 23, 23andMe, the pioneer in at-home genetic testing, shocked the public by filing for Chapter 11 bankruptcy, signaling a potential sale of the company. With 15 million customers relying on the service, many are now left wondering: What happens to my genetic data?

As privacy advocates raise alarms, and even two state attorneys general urge Americans to delete their data, 23andMe insists that its bankruptcy proceedings will not affect how it handles user information. But with the company’s future uncertain, experts believe there’s a huge incentive for corporations and researchers to get their hands on the treasure trove of genetic data 23andMe has accumulated.

Genetic data provides more than just information about your ancestry—it can reveal a lot about your health, food preferences, and even traits passed down through generations. Despite growing privacy concerns, this data holds incredible potential for industries ranging from medical research to advertising.

“Genetic data is permanent and unique,” says Katie Hasson, associate director for the Center for Genetics and Society. “It could reveal information about people who don’t even exist yet, many years from now.”

As 23andMe seeks a buyer, one thing is clear: corporations, advertisers, and medical researchers are eager to access the wealth of information embedded in these DNA profiles.

The value of genetic data goes far beyond simple ancestry reports. Take, for example, how genetics can influence food preferences. Researchers have discovered hundreds of genetic variants tied to specific tastes, such as liking or disliking certain foods. Gideon Nave, an associate professor at the University of Pennsylvania’s Wharton School, explains that genetic data could be more insightful than your shopping cart—especially since the items you buy may be for someone else.

“Genetic data can often tell us more about a person’s preferences than even their stated choices,” Nave says. “It’s a much deeper level of personalization for companies, especially when it comes to targeted advertising.”

Moreover, 23andMe’s health-related services offer subscribers insights into their genetic predispositions for certain diseases, like Type 2 diabetes or celiac disease. That’s where the real value lies for healthcare companies and researchers: using genetic data to better understand diseases, create personalized treatments, and improve diagnoses.

Healthcare professionals often rely on rules of thumb, tests, and symptom-checking to diagnose patients, but many conditions share similar symptoms. This is where combining genetic data with clinical information can make a difference, says Vasant Dhar, a professor of business and data science at NYU’s Stern School of Business.

“Doctors are following rules and doing tests, but a lot of diseases have similar symptoms,” Dhar explains. “Genetic data, combined with clinical information, could lead to more accurate diagnoses and better treatments.”

Healthcare research is poised to benefit greatly from genetic information, especially when it comes to developing tailored medical interventions. However, the potential for misuse also raises significant concerns.

While genetic data is highly valuable for research and healthcare, it also brings significant privacy risks. The Genetic Information Nondiscrimination Act (GINA) prohibits the use of genetic data in health insurance and employment decisions, but there are few regulations surrounding its use in other industries, like disability insurance.

Katie Hasson warns that genetic data could be exploited in ways that people aren’t even aware of. For example, genetic traits linked to health risks might be used for targeted advertising, potentially manipulating consumers based on information they don’t fully understand about themselves.

“There’s a darker side to this,” says Dhar. “With genetics, companies could know a lot more about you than you realize. That kind of personal information could be exploited in ways that aren’t fully transparent.”

23andMe’s potential sale wouldn’t be the first time a genetic testing company has been acquired. In 2020, private equity firm Blackstone acquired Ancestry.com. But there’s a key difference: genetic data doesn’t expire. Unlike traditional consumer data, genetic information can be useful for companies long into the future, even if it’s not immediately applied.

For instance, companies could use genetic data to shape future marketing strategies, develop new products, or even predict consumer behavior based on health traits.

However, as Nave points out, this also brings risks. “One of the dangers of genetic data is that it’s permanent. It doesn’t have an expiration date,” he says. “If companies ever use it for marketing, they could target consumers based on health traits they aren’t even aware of.”

As 23andMe enters this uncertain chapter, the future of its data—and its millions of users—remains in the balance. The company promises to continue selling its DNA test kits and offering subscriptions, but who will buy the company and what they will do with the data remains to be seen.

For now, the key takeaway is clear: genetic data is incredibly powerful, and it’s more than just a tool for tracing your family tree. It’s a valuable commodity with vast potential—and the companies that acquire it could hold your most personal information for years to come.

As the world of genetic data continues to evolve, privacy concerns are sure to rise. Whether consumers will have a say in how their information is used remains to be seen, but one thing is certain: the sale of 23andMe’s data will open up a whole new world of possibilities—and risks.

Source: CNN – 23andMe’s DNA data is going up for sale. Here’s why companies might want it

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Chinese scientists have made significant progress in fertility research by using stem cell transplantation to extend the reproductive lifespan in female monkeys. This breakthrough could provide new options for women struggling to conceive, especially as the average age for having children continues to rise.

The study, conducted by researchers from the Chinese Academy of Sciences and published in Cell Discovery, addresses the issue of ovarian aging, which naturally affects female fertility. As the ovaries age, they produce fewer eggs and hormones, leading to menopause and related health issues. Currently, there is no effective treatment to fully restore ovarian function.

Stem cells have shown promise in treating premature ovarian aging, so researchers investigated whether these treatments could benefit naturally aging ovaries. In the study, they transplanted M-cells—stem cells derived from human embryonic cells with strong immune and anti-inflammatory properties—into the ovaries of aging crab-eating macaques, a type of monkey with a reproductive aging pattern similar to humans.

The results were promising. The treated monkeys showed improved hormone levels, more active ovarian follicles, reduced ovarian fibrosis, and even healthier overall reproductive functions. One monkey even conceived and gave birth, highlighting the treatment’s potential.

With the average age of first-time mothers rising—27 in the United States, nearly 29 in Australia, and over 32 in South Korea—more women are experiencing fertility challenges as ovarian function begins to decline around their late 30s to mid-40s. In China, where the average age for first-time mothers is now over 27, regions like Shanghai see averages above 30.

Current treatments, like hormone replacement therapy, can help ease menopausal symptoms but carry risks such as heart disease, stroke, and breast cancer. Researchers aim to find safer, more effective treatments, especially given that ovarian aging can lead to serious conditions, including osteoporosis, cardiovascular disease, and neurodegenerative disorders.

The study also examined ovarian tissue samples from Chinese women in various age ranges. Findings showed a sharp decline in primordial follicle reserves by age 40, with reserves nearly exhausted by early 50s. But these remaining follicles could still potentially grow, supporting the idea of extending reproductive lifespan.

M-cell transplantation could be a safer and more effective approach to delay ovarian aging, as none of the treated monkeys showed signs of inflammation or other serious side effects. In comparison to untreated monkeys, the transplanted group showed improved hormone levels, follicle development, reduced fibrosis, and lower DNA damage.

The research team concluded that “M-cell transplantation is a feasible clinical strategy to alleviate physiological ovarian aging and extend fertility lifespan,” offering a new direction in fertility treatment that could improve quality of life for many women.

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