NanoViricides to Test Oral Ebola Drug in the Democratic Republic of Congo
Kinshasa, Tuesday, 15 September 2026.
Next week, NanoViricides will launch Phase II trials for an oral Ebola treatment in the Democratic Republic of Congo, targeting a severe outbreak with a 48% fatality rate.
NanoViricides Initiates Phase II Trial for Oral Ebola Treatment
NanoViricides, Inc. (NYSE American: NNVC) announced it will launch Phase II clinical trials for NV-387, an oral antiviral drug designed to treat Ebola, starting the week of September 21, 2026 [1]. The trials will be conducted at an Ebola Treatment Center in Ituri province, Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), targeting the Bundibugyo Ebolavirus [1]. This announcement comes as the World Health Organization declared the outbreak a Public Health Emergency of International Concern on 17 May 2026 [1]. The company has contracted Om Sai Clinical Research Private Limited to execute the trial, with first patient dosing expected next week [1].
Escalating Outbreak Statistics and Fatality Rates
As of September 10, 2026, the WHO reported 7,022 confirmed Ebola cases and 3,398 confirmed deaths in the DRC [1]. The crude fatality rate stands at approximately 48%, derived from the ratio of confirmed deaths to cases 48.391 [1]. CDC models had previously projected between 10,000 and 20,000 cases within three months, indicating the outbreak is progressing within severe parameters [1]. The existing PARTNERS clinical trial, initiated July 2, 2026, involves 300 patients but is considered unscalable due to the requirement for intravenous delivery [1].
Therapeutic Mechanism and Strategic Implementation
NV-387 is a broad-spectrum antiviral candidate designed to mimic heparan sulfate proteoglycan (HSPG), a receptor required by most human pathogenic viruses for cell infection [1]. Unlike intravenous options like Remdesivir, NV-387 offers an oral delivery method which is critical for resource-poor areas [1]. NanoViricides President Anil R. Diwan, PhD, stated that data from the clinical trial will determine if the drug can become an important pillar in the response to the crisis [1]. The company notes it cannot project exact dates for future regulatory filings due to dependence on external collaborators [1].