mAbs and Ad-vectored IFN-α therapy rescue Ebola-infected nonhuman primates when administered after the detection of viremia and symptoms

Sci Transl Med. 2013 Oct 16;5(207):207ra143. doi: 10.1126/scitranslmed.3006605.

Abstract

ZMAb is a promising treatment against Ebola virus (EBOV) disease that has been shown to protect 50% (two of four) of nonhuman primates (NHPs) when administered 2 days post-infection (dpi). To extend the treatment window and improve protection, we combined ZMAb with adenovirus-vectored interferon-α (Ad-IFN) and evaluated efficacy in EBOV-infected NHPs. Seventy-five percent (three of four) and 100% (four of four) of cynomolgus and rhesus macaques survived, respectively, when treatment was initiated after detection of viremia at 3 dpi. Fifty percent (two of four) of the cynomolgus macaques survived when Ad-IFN was given at 1 dpi, followed by ZMAb starting at 4 dpi, after positive diagnosis. The treatment was able to suppress viremia reaching ~10(5) TCID50 (median tissue culture infectious dose) per milliliter, leading to survival and robust specific immune responses. This study describes conditions capable of saving 100% of EBOV-infected NHPs when initiated after the presence of detectable viremia along with symptoms.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adenoviridae / metabolism
  • Animals
  • Antibodies, Monoclonal / administration & dosage
  • Antibodies, Monoclonal / therapeutic use*
  • Antibody Formation / immunology
  • Antibody Specificity / immunology
  • Ebolavirus / physiology*
  • Genetic Vectors / metabolism
  • Glycoproteins / metabolism
  • Hemorrhagic Fever, Ebola / drug therapy*
  • Hemorrhagic Fever, Ebola / immunology*
  • Hemorrhagic Fever, Ebola / prevention & control
  • Hemorrhagic Fever, Ebola / virology
  • Humans
  • Interferon-alpha / administration & dosage
  • Interferon-alpha / therapeutic use*
  • Macaca / immunology
  • Macaca / virology*
  • Survival Analysis
  • T-Lymphocytes / immunology
  • Viral Proteins / metabolism
  • Viremia / drug therapy*
  • Viremia / immunology

Substances

  • Antibodies, Monoclonal
  • Glycoproteins
  • Interferon-alpha
  • Viral Proteins