Boston, MA 08/08/2014 (wallstreetpr) – After a long wait, Tekmira Pharmaceuticals Corporation (NASDAQ:TKMR)’s drug for Ebola has received the official nod from the U.S. regulators. It can now be used on infected patients. Previously, FDA had put the tests of the drug termed as TKM-Ebola on hold. Now, it has received the partial hold status in its phase I trial.
The change of decision
The deadly virus has said to take the lives of almost 932 people in West Africa in last some months. Ebola virus is getting deadlier, and the approval allows Tekmira to take the necessary steps for the responsible use of TKM-Ebola. The spokeswoman of FDA and the management of Tekmira Pharmaceuticals Corporation (NASDAQ:TKMR) didn’t provide any additional information. It is still not clear as to when the tests can start and how much drug is available with the company.
A light in the dark
Ebola is creating noise everywhere. Even The World Health Organization has formed a panel of medical experts to discuss the experimental drugs available for Ebola. The US is considering all the measures that can be used in future outbreaks. FDA was not ready to permit for the Ebola treatment testing last month. TKM-Ebola was put on hold due to safety concerns. The drug resulted in the inflammatory, flu-like response in people who were given the high doses of the drug. As a result, FDA denied the future testing of the drug. Even the company was not expecting to get the nod before the end of the year.
The drug treatment
Tekmira Pharmaceuticals Corporation (NASDAQ:TKMR)’s drug treatment for Ebola is believed to stop the action of gene attack. It stops the viruses from creating more of itself. The drug was tested on four monkeys in year 2010 where they were given seven doses of the medicine. The drugs were effective in protecting them from disease. The FDA team will look after the risk-benefit balance of the treatment and will accordingly take the decisions in the future. As of now, TKM-Ebola is in the first stage of the three necessary trials required by regulators to give a drug approval.
