Scientists have discovered that an oral antiviral drug successfully prevented the death of monkeys infected with the Ebola virus, a breakthrough that could help prevent future outbreaks of this deadly virus.
اضافة اعلان
Ebola virus is highly lethal to humans and primates, with mortality rates reaching about 90% of those infected. For example, the Ebola outbreak in West Africa between 2013 and 2016 resulted in 11,325 deaths out of 28,600 infected, while another outbreak in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Uganda between 2018 and 2020 caused 2,299 deaths out of 3,481 cases.
While antibody-based treatments have shown some success in animal and human trials, challenges such as storage and transport requirements, particularly the need for refrigeration, pose significant obstacles to limiting outbreaks, according to scientists.
Thus, there is an urgent need to develop oral tablet treatments that can be distributed quickly and widely to save lives and curb the spread of the virus in resource-limited areas.
Scientists explained: "Oral antiviral drugs offer several advantages over injectable treatments, including ease of supply, storage, distribution, and administration."
Previously, it was discovered that the drug Obildesivir (ODV) has broad activity against several RNA viruses, including the filovirus family to which Ebola belongs, when administered within 24 hours of exposure to the virus.
However, in earlier research, scientists used an intramuscular injection method to introduce the virus to macaques, leading to rapid disease progression, making it difficult to track the drug's effectiveness.
In the recent study, published in Science Advances, scientists found that Obildesivir provided 100% protection for rhesus monkeys exposed to the highly virulent Macuna strain of Ebola when administered through mucosal membranes.
Five rhesus monkeys and five crab-eating macaques were given a daily dose of Obildesivir for 10 days starting 24 hours after exposure to the virus, while three monkeys served as a control group.
The scientists found that Obildesivir provided 100% protection against death for the rhesus monkeys and 80% for the macaques. Since the disease progressed more slowly with the new method of virus administration, the team was also able to explore the drug's mechanisms of action. They found that the treated monkeys showed higher expression of proteins supporting T-cell activation, which are part of the immune system. Additionally, the treated monkeys showed better anti-inflammatory effects and reduced severe immune reactions.
Overall, the scientists believe these results support the potential of Obildesivir as a post-exposure preventive treatment for Ebola when taken orally. They wrote: "These results suggest that Obildesivir treatment offers an opportunity to develop adaptive immunity while reducing excessive inflammation, which may prevent lethal outcomes."
The scientists hope to gain a better understanding of how late-stage treatment with Obildesivir affects immune responses.
