US Enlists Mapp Biopharmaceutical for Experimental Ebola Drug as BARDA Weighs Patient Use
Updated
Updated · Bloomberg · May 23
US Enlists Mapp Biopharmaceutical for Experimental Ebola Drug as BARDA Weighs Patient Use
4 articles · Updated · Bloomberg · May 23
US officials are working with closely held Mapp Biopharmaceutical to supply an experimental Ebola treatment for people exposed to the virus, according to a person familiar with the matter.
BARDA is coordinating with the biotech to deliver the drug for potential patient use, signaling the treatment is being positioned for possible deployment rather than remaining only in development.
The move puts a small private company at the center of the US response effort as authorities seek options for Ebola-exposed patients.
With a US-owned Ebola drug, how can we ensure equitable access for the African nations most affected?
An experimental drug saved monkeys from Ebola. Is it the miracle cure needed for the ongoing human outbreak?
Can plant-based drugs become the future of rapid response to deadly viral outbreaks like Ebola?
The 2026 Bundibugyo Ebola Crisis: 750 Suspected Cases, 177 Deaths, and the Experimental MBP134 Response
Overview
The 2026 Bundibugyo Ebola outbreak quickly became a major health crisis in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Uganda, with hundreds of cases and many deaths reported by late May. The World Health Organization declared it a Public Health Emergency of International Concern, highlighting the urgent need for action. A key challenge was the lack of approved vaccines or treatments for the Bundibugyo strain, along with limited testing capacity, which made it hard to identify and isolate cases. These factors, combined with existing humanitarian issues, made the response especially difficult and underscored the need for new solutions.