A Kentucky company is hiring more people and is working around the clock on an experimental medicine that was recently used to treat Ebola.
Reynolds American Inc. acquired Kentucky BioProcessing in January. Reynolds spokesman David Howard said the company has put its full focus on the compound ZMapp. Kentucky BioProcessing was
contracted by San Diego-based drug maker Mapp Biopharmaceutical to produce ZMapp and makes the compound using tobacco plants. Howard says limited supplies of the compound, which takes about three months to make, are available.
The drug is still awaiting approval. The organization Samaritan's Purse says ZMapp was used on American aid workers Nancy Writebol and Kent Brantly while they were still in Liberia. Both recovered, but doctors say it's unclear what role ZMapp played.