Test method for treating Ebola

The ZMapp method is applied to two American patients infected with Ebola virus, but it has not been recognized as a cure for human body disease and may have potential side effects.

>>>Difficult to produce anti-Ebola ZMapp test serum

ZMapp is an experimental treatment for Ebola virus disease, studied and produced at Mapp Biopharmaceutical Company and LeafBio in San Diego, USA.

Researchers have previously tested this method on monkeys and started applying it to treat people earlier this month. Two patients are American medical staff, being cared for and rehabilitated at Emory University Hospital, Atlanta, in a special isolation room. They were infected with Ebola virus while working in Liberia.

ZMapp's treatment mechanism

ZMapp mixed solution solution integrates Ebola treatment MB-003 and ZMAb . MB0-003 was created from the lab of Mapp Biopharmaceutical, which could protect monkeys from the effects of Ebola at 100%, when it was applied to the animal immediately after they were exposed to the virus.

ZMapp is an experimental and unrecognized method for testing with human body.Its potential side effects are still unknown.(Artwork: Reuters)

Thanks to ZMapp, the survival rate of monkeys is 100% in one day after exposure and 50% after two days. According to experts, ZMapp is the solution that combines the best elements of the two treatments.

Serum antibodies are taken from mice exposed to Ebola, so this drug is also known as a mixture made up of three monoclonal antibodies of mice. The body's immune system can fight off the virus when serum antibodies are present in the blood. This method will create an artificial immune response to the virus, and antibodies produced from the laboratory will fight the risk of infection.

Artificial antibodies are made from a tobacco plant in Australia. This plant is specially modified to match the therapeutic properties, then harvested and ground into a green mixture used in serum. Tobacco plants can be grown to produce a large amount of antibodies needed for treatment.

Where is ZMApp applied?

According to experts, antibodies were created from Mapp Biopharmaceutical's branch in Kentucky and only a small amount of ZMapp was retained in the United States. The cost of the manufacturing process is very expensive and the serum is still in testing.

Kent Brantly and Nancy Writebol were the first two people treated with this method. A Spanish priest Miguel Pajares, 75, will become the first European patient to be treated with ZMapp testing. Miguel Pajare infected with Ebola virus during his time in Liberia.

Whether ZMapp can work on a large scale or not

Medical experts say, theoretically, ZMapp can be used to combat the Ebola outbreak in West Africa. However, officials recommend that people, except for two American patients, have not performed any human tests on the vaccine, and it has not been proven to be available to humans. in North America or anywhere else. The production of enough ZMapp numbers for human trials will last for at least two months.

How two American patients have access to ZMapp

In order for them to reach ZMapp, the Food and Drug Administration is said to have accelerated the process needed to adopt human body treatments for experimental drugs. This can be done according to the "priority use" regulations, allowing the drug to be tested in addition to clinical trials.

Kent Brantly received the first serum dose after about 9 days of illness, and Nancy Writebol's approach to this treatment was 7-10 days after exposure to the virus. Serum was transferred to the Liberia hospital, where Brantly and Writebol were treated.

Is ZMapp safe?

Experts emphasize that, ZMapp has not been recognized for testing with human body and the potential side effects are still unknown. According to doctors who care for Brantly and Writebol, their situation has improved since treatment with ZMapp. However, it is not possible to confirm the link between the improvement of the patient's health with the vaccine. This may be the result of the immune system's natural defense mechanism.