Overview

• Obeldesivir, an oral antiviral drug, protected 80-100% of monkeys infected with the Ebola virus in a recent study published in *Science Advances*.
• The drug operates by inhibiting viral replication and may provide broad protection against multiple strains of Ebola and related viruses like Marburg.
• Unlike existing antibody-based treatments, obeldesivir is easier to administer, does not require cold storage, and could be more practical in resource-limited settings.
• Researchers emphasize the potential of obeldesivir as a post-exposure prophylaxis, particularly in outbreak scenarios where rapid and widespread treatment is critical.
• Further trials are needed to confirm its safety and efficacy in humans, with pharmaceutical company Gilead already advancing obeldesivir to Phase 2 trials for related viruses.