Ebola Therapies In The Works.

According to Bloomberg News (11/4, Skerritt), Tekmira Pharmaceutical Corp.’s stock prices are the highest among makers of Ebola therapies. According to an October 21 statement from the company, the treatment is specific to Guinea’s Ebola strain and will “rapidly and accurately match the evolving genetic sequences” of the disease. In September, the FDA approved this treatment for confirmed Ebola patients. Bloomberg profiles other promising Ebola drugs, including their companies’ stock values.

        Bloomberg News (11/4, Bennett) reports that the board of GAVI, an organization of governments and the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation that supplies vaccines to developing countries, will meet next month to decide which of the promising Ebola vaccines to support. GlaxoSmithKline’s vaccine is a contender for that support. The vaccine works to prevent Ebola in animals, but human trial results expected in December will reveal the drug’s true efficacy.

        The New York Times (11/5, Pollack, Subscription Publication) reports that studies for an Ebola quick-test are also underway. Rapid tests would be useful in West Africa, where lab results often take days, in airport screenings, and in hospitals amid the dawning flu season. The WHO and the FDA both support development of a rapid test.