Ebola Pill Shows Promise in Monkey Trials, Raising Hopes for Human Treatment

The antiviral drug obeldesivir demonstrated high survival rates in infected monkeys, offering potential for easier and broader outbreak management.

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.