West Africa (BBN)-The charity Medecins Sans Frontieres has said it will host clinical trials of new treatments for Ebola at three centres in West Africa.
Medical staff will use two drugs from a World Health Organisation shortlist, as well as blood and plasma therapy also endorsed by the WHO, reports BBC.
The aim of the trials is to keep the patients alive during the critical first 14 days of the illness.
The news comes as the number of people to die from Ebola rose to 5,160.
The outbreak is thought to have infected more than 14,000 people, almost all of them in West Africa.
MSF spokeswoman Annick Antierens said the charity was taking part jointly with British, French and Belgian researchers to give Ebola sufferers a better chance of survival.
"This is an unprecedented international partnership which represents hope for patients to finally get a real treatment," she said.
BBN/JF-13Nov14-1:30pm (BST)