The worst recorded outbreak of Ebola -- the world’s deadliest disease -- is spreading quickly. This news is alarming because the disease is known to have up to a 90 percent fatality rate. What’s even more concerning is that there is currently no approved treatment or cure for Ebola. I grew up in Sierra Leone, which just declared a national state of emergency in response to this crisis. As a doctor in the U.S. with West African roots, I am extremely concerned about what’s to come -- 729 people have already died in this outbreak. In early July, U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) placed a hold on testing an Ebola treatment drug, TKM-Ebola. The drug had initial positive results -- given the global urgency, why is the FDA treating this as business as usual? I am asking the FDA to immediately remove its hold and accelerate clinical trials on all possible Ebola treatments and vaccines as soon as possible. Click here to sign my petition. TKM-Ebola aims to treat the often deadly symptoms of viral hemorrhagic fever caused by Ebola. It is further along in FDA research than any other Ebola drug. Previous peer reviewed clinical trials have found the drug to be highly effective in fighting the virus in primates. During initial human safety testing, 14 research participants safely tolerated the drug before the study was halted. The trials were put on hold so that the FDA could review data before moving to the second test stage. Ebola is affecting American lives. One American citizen in Nigeria died from Ebola, and two others working in Africa have contracted the disease. Health officials expect many more to follow. That’s why the FDA must fast track its research like it has done in past emergency cases. A precedent for such action was set last year when a researcher received an experimental drug after being exposed to Ebola. We cannot afford to stand by given the imminent threat that the deadly disease is posing to our country and others. We need solutions right now before it’s too late. Please sign this petition and urge immediate action from the FDA to accelerate clinical trial research of this drug and all possible Ebola treatments. Thank you
Posted on: Wed, 06 Aug 2014 00:34:37 +0000