France, June 24 -- The US Department of Health and Human Services confirmed it will provide doses of MBP134, an antibody drug developed by California-based Mapp Biopharmaceutical, for compassionate use in the DRC and to support a clinical trial in the outbreak region.

"The drug is being made available for compassionate use in Congo as well as to advance a clinical trial in the outbreak region," a department spokesperson told Reuters.

Washington had previously said doses of the drug would only be made available to its own citizens considered at high risk after exposure to the virus.

Trial data could help support future regulatory review and possible US approval, the spokesperson added, declining to say how many doses were being provided...