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A new study has revealed that a simple pill could cure monkeys infected with Ebola, offering hope for a more practical human treatment.
Ebola, first identified in 1976, is a lethal viral disease that spreads through bodily fluids, causing severe bleeding and organ failure. Outbreaks mostly affect sub-Saharan Africa, making pharmaceutical investment scarce. Existing treatments require expensive cold storage, limiting accessibility.
Researchers at The University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston, led by virologist Thomas Geisbert, tested an oral antiviral drug, Obeldesivir—derived from Remdesivir (originally for COVID-19).
Obeldesivir blocks an enzyme crucial for viral replication. In the study, infected monkeys received a daily pill for ten days. Among treated subjects, 80% of cynomolgus macaques and 100% of rhesus macaques—biologically closer to humans—survived. The drug cleared the virus, prevented organ damage, and triggered an immune response.
Unlike existing antibody treatments, which only work against the Zaire strain, Obeldesivir offers broad-spectrum protection. Pharmaceutical company Gilead is advancing it to Phase 2 clinical trials for Marburg virus, a close relative of Ebola.
Geisbert, an Ebola researcher since the 1980s, emphasized the importance of U.S. government funding in developing treatments. “Ninety percent of the money for these drugs and vaccines comes from the U.S. government,” he said, stressing the need for continued research investment.
While more research is needed, this discovery marks a major step in the fight against Ebola. An effective pill could revolutionize treatment, making it easier to control outbreaks and save lives.
