A recent report published highlights promising new research suggesting that Ebola may one day be treated with an oral antiviral pill. In a study conducted on monkeys, scientists tested an experimental drug called obeldesivir, an oral form of remdesivir, to evaluate its effectiveness against Ebola infection.
Researchers infected rhesus and cynomolgus macaques with the Makona strain of the Ebola virus, administering the drug beginning one day after exposure. The treated animals received a daily dose for 10 consecutive days. The results were striking: all of the rhesus macaques survived, along with 80% of the cynomolgus macaques. In contrast, untreated animals did not survive the infection. The treated monkeys not only cleared the virus from their bloodstream but also developed protective antibodies and showed significantly reduced organ damage.
The findings are especially significant because Ebola treatments currently rely on intravenous antibody therapies. These treatments can be expensive, require refrigeration, and must be administered in clinical settings—conditions that are difficult to maintain during outbreaks in remote or resource-limited regions. An oral pill would be far easier to distribute and administer, potentially transforming outbreak response efforts.
While the results are highly encouraging, experts caution that success in monkeys does not automatically translate to humans. Clinical trials will be necessary to determine whether the drug is safe and effective for people. Researchers are also investigating whether the medication could work against related viruses such as Marburg.
If proven effective in humans, an oral antiviral treatment could represent a major advancement in global health, offering a more practical and accessible way to combat one of the world’s most deadly infectious diseases.
