Wednesday, July 8, 2026
Island Pharma drug cleared for Bundibugyo Ebola use
Island Pharma has been granted the regulatory approvals needed to allow compassionate use of its antiviral galidesivir in the Bundibugyo Ebola outbreak in Uganda.
The Melbourne, Australia-based biotech said it expects galidesivir to be deployed in the country this year, giving it an opportunity to generate "prospective human efficacy, safety and virological data" during an active outbreak of an Ebola virus species.
Shares in the company on Australia's ASX exchange were trading up nearly 27% at the time of writing.
The announcement comes shortly after two other potential Bundibugyo Ebola treatments - Mapp Biopharmaceutical's MBP134 and Gilead's remdesivir – started human testing in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), thought to be the epicentre of the current outbreak.
It also comes as the death toll has passed 500, according to WHO figures released yesterday, which also revealed 1,561 confirmed cases in DR Congo since the outbreak was declared in mid-May. There have been two deaths and 20 confirmed cases in neighbouring Uganda.
Island said the approvals "position galidesivir as a potential treatment for Bundibugyo Ebola virus disease, where patients currently have no approved therapeutic options."
The company also said that concurrent Ebola and Marburg activity in Uganda "highlights the growing importance of broad-spectrum antiviral therapies and medical countermeasures, such as galidesivir," and advances the drug across two potential complementary development pathways.
Island is now starting to make clinical supplies of galidesivir available to investigation sites in Uganda for a planned study under the WHO's MEURI framework for accessing experimental therapies during public health emergencies, where no approved treatment options exist, and conventional randomised clinical trials cannot be implemented.
Unlike conventional compassionate use programs, MEURI requires prospective collection of clinical, safety and virological data under an approved protocol, enabling investigators to systematically evaluate patient outcomes while providing access to potentially beneficial investigational therapies.
"The decision to approve this program reflects a rigorous scientific and ethical review process involving Uganda's leading regulatory and public health authorities and provides an important validation of galidesivir's existing body of preclinical and clinical evidence," said Dr David Foster, Island's chief executive and managing director.
"This study represents a rare dual-pathway opportunity to advance galidesivir toward potential approval and future government procurement."
https://pharmaphorum.com/news/island-pharma-drug-cleared-bundibugyo-ebola-use
Bahrain activates alarm sirens, urges residents to seek shelter
Bahrain’s Interior Ministry said it activated alarm sirens on Wednesday and urged citizens and residents to remain calm, move to the nearest safe location, and follow updates through official channels.
تم إطلاق صافرة الإنذار، نرجو من المواطنين والمقيمين الهدوء والتوجه لأقرب مكان آمن ومتابعة الأخبار عبر القنوات الرسمية.
— Ministry of Interior (@moi_bahrain) July 9, 2026
Kuwait says air defenses intercepting missile and drone attacks
Kuwait’s military said on Wednesday that its air defenses were confronting hostile missile and drone attacks. The army’s General Staff said any sounds of explosions heard were the result of air defense systems intercepting the attacks, urging residents to follow safety instructions issued by authorities.
تتصدى حالياً الدفاعات الجوية الكويتية لهجمات صاروخية وطائرات مسيرة معادية.
— KUWAIT ARMY - الجيش الكويتي (@KuwaitArmyGHQ) July 9, 2026
تنوه رئاسة الأركان العامة للجيش أن أصوات الانفجارات إن سمعت فهي نتيجة اعتراض منظومات الدفاع الجوي للهجمات المعادية.
يرجى من الجميع التقيد بتعليمات الأمن والسلامة الصادرة عن الجهات المختصة.… pic.twitter.com/jqR7huoRTO
Qatar raises security threat level, urges residents to stay indoors
Qatar’s Interior Ministry said on Wednesday that the security threat level was elevated and urged everyone to remain at home, avoid going outside, and stay away from windows and exposed areas for their safety.
وزارة الداخلية: مستوى التهديد الأمني مرتفع#قنا #قطر https://t.co/tOcgjRGwkK pic.twitter.com/5ZRHpKp3pM
— وكالة الأنباء القطرية (@QatarNewsAgency) July 9, 2026