[HTML][HTML] Successful treatment of advanced Ebola virus infection with T-705 (favipiravir) in a small animal model

L Oestereich, A Lüdtke, S Wurr, T Rieger… - Antiviral research, 2014 - Elsevier
L Oestereich, A Lüdtke, S Wurr, T Rieger, C Muñoz-Fontela, S Günther
Antiviral research, 2014Elsevier
Outbreaks of Ebola hemorrhagic fever in sub-Saharan Africa are associated with case
fatality rates of up to 90%. Currently, neither a vaccine nor an effective antiviral treatment is
available for use in humans. Here, we evaluated the efficacy of the pyrazinecarboxamide
derivative T-705 (favipiravir) against Zaire Ebola virus (EBOV) in vitro and in vivo. T-705
suppressed replication of Zaire EBOV in cell culture by 4 log units with an IC 90 of 110 μM.
Mice lacking the type I interferon receptor (IFNAR−/−) were used as in vivo model for Zaire …
Abstract
Outbreaks of Ebola hemorrhagic fever in sub-Saharan Africa are associated with case fatality rates of up to 90%. Currently, neither a vaccine nor an effective antiviral treatment is available for use in humans. Here, we evaluated the efficacy of the pyrazinecarboxamide derivative T-705 (favipiravir) against Zaire Ebola virus (EBOV) in vitro and in vivo. T-705 suppressed replication of Zaire EBOV in cell culture by 4 log units with an IC90 of 110 μM. Mice lacking the type I interferon receptor (IFNAR/) were used as in vivo model for Zaire EBOV-induced disease. Initiation of T-705 administration at day 6 post infection induced rapid virus clearance, reduced biochemical parameters of disease severity, and prevented a lethal outcome in 100% of the animals. The findings suggest that T-705 is a candidate for treatment of Ebola hemorrhagic fever.
Elsevier