Post-exposure efficacy of oral T-705 (Favipiravir) against inhalational Ebola virus infection in a mouse model.
Filoviruses cause disease with high case fatality rates and are considered biological threat agents. Licensed post-exposure therapies that can be administered by the oral route are desired for safe and rapid distribution and uptake in the event of exposure or outbreaks. Favipiravir or T-705 has broad antiviral activity and has already undergone phase II and is undergoing phase III clinical trials for influenza. Here we report the first use of T-705 against Ebola virus. T-705 gave 100% protection against aerosol Ebola virus E718 infection; protection was shown in immune-deficient mice after 14 days of twice-daily dosing. T-705 was also shown to inhibit Ebola virus infection in cell culture. T-705 is likely to be licensed for use against influenza in the near future and could also be used with a new indication for filovirus infection.
Biomedical Sciences Department, Defence Science and Technology Laboratory (Dstl), Porton Down, Salisbury, Wiltshire SP4 0JQ, UK. Electronic address: sjsmither@dstl.gov.uk.
Sophie J
SJ
Smither
Biomedical Sciences Department, Defence Science and Technology Laboratory (Dstl), Porton Down, Salisbury, Wiltshire SP4 0JQ, UK.
Lin S
LS
Eastaugh
Biomedical Sciences Department, Defence Science and Technology Laboratory (Dstl), Porton Down, Salisbury, Wiltshire SP4 0JQ, UK.
Jackie A
JA
Steward
Biomedical Sciences Department, Defence Science and Technology Laboratory (Dstl), Porton Down, Salisbury, Wiltshire SP4 0JQ, UK.
Michelle
M
Nelson
MediVector, Inc., Two International Place, 22nd Floor, Boston, MA 02110, United States.
Robert P
RP
Lenk
Biomedical Sciences Department, Defence Science and Technology Laboratory (Dstl), Porton Down, Salisbury, Wiltshire SP4 0JQ, UK.
Mark S
MS
Lever
D000284:Administration, Oral; D000577:Amides / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D000818:Animals; D000998:Antiviral Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D029043:Ebolavirus / Q000187:drug effects*; D019142:Hemorrhagic Fever, Ebola / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000401:mortality / Q000821:virology*; D051379:Mice; D018345:Mice, Knockout; D011719:Pyrazines / Q000008:administration & dosage*
D000577:Amides; D000998:Antiviral Agents; D011719:Pyrazines; C462182:favipiravir
Aerosol; Bioterrorism; Broad-spectrum; Ebola; Favipiravir; Licensed