New Pill Cures Ebola-infected Monkeys, Sparks Human Treatment Hopes

Researchers from the University of Texas have developed an oral antiviral drug, Obeldesivir, that successfully cured monkeys infected with the Ebola virus, suggesting potential for more practical treatments in humans. The study, published in the journal Science Advances, showed that all rhesus macaques receiving the drug survived, while only 80% of cynomolgus macaques were protected. Obeldesivir, an oral form of Remdesivir initially designed for COVID-19, acts as a polymerase inhibitor, blocking an enzyme essential for viral replication. This advancement could address significant challenges posed by existing treatments, which often require cold storage and are difficult to administer in low-resource settings. The findings are a promising step toward developing easily deployable treatments that could help contain future Ebola outbreaks, particularly in sub-Saharan Africa where outbreaks are most prevalent. Scientists hope this breakthrough will pave the way for more accessible therapies to manage this deadly virus.