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Hollande hails encouraging results of Ebola treatement trial

Xinhua, February 5, 2015 Adjust font size:

French President Francois Hollande on Wednesday hailed encouraging results of a trial for Ebola treatment conducted by French experts in Guinea.

With the help of Guinea authorities, MSF, the NGO Alima and the French Red Cross, French Institute of Health and Medical Research (INSERM) conducted in December 2014 a first clinical trial in Guinea Conakry evaluating the efficaciousness of an antiviral in Ebola treatment.

The trial results were ecncouraging showing a slowdown in deaths of patients having feeble muliplication of the virus, Hollande said in a statement.

Provided by the Japanese laboratory Toyama chemical, the tested anti-viral, the favipiravir, contributed to accelerating patients' recovery, according to the statement.

"The President of the Republic welcomed this important step achieved by a close collaboration between France and Guinea," the Elysee said.

"These first results open new perspectives for access to treatment in the fight against the disease," it added.

Since March 2014, Ebola virus has killed 8,500 people across Guinea, Liberia, Nigeria and Sierra Leone, the World Health Organization's figures showed. Enditem