On the science and ethics of Ebola treatments

This is a full-throated and compelling defense of double-blinded, randomized, controlled trials even - and especially - in resource-constrained situations with a terrible disease like Ebola.<p>It is far more interesting and historical than the title suggests, and if you have not yet done so I encourage you to read the article.

incidentally the way Zmapp is made (it&#x27;s made in tobacco plants) it&#x27;s unsurprising there is a shortage. Interestingly, there is in the last year commercialized technology (humanized yeast) that would make manufacture much much simpler.<p>The second issue, of course, is patents, which are undoubtedly getting in the way here.

&quot;But if there were ever a disease for which this is not a big deal, it is Ebola. It seems extraordinarily unlikely that the drug could make matters any worse for an Ebola patient than they are already.&quot;<p>It can increase the mortality from 50%-60% to 100%. It can protract death, make it more painful, instill false hope.