Merck Explores Repurposing Molnupiravir for Rare Ebola Outbreak as Congo Cases Cross 1,100

The outbreak, which has so far infected a suspected 1,100 people and ‌resulted in ⁠42 deaths, ⁠involves a rare strain of the virus called Bundibugyo for which there are ​no approved vaccines or treatments.

"Molnupiravir is a non-specific RNA virus drug. We're thinking about ​how we could use that," Eliav Barr, chief medical officer at Merck Research Laboratories, said in an interview at the American Society for ​Clinical Oncology meeting in Chicago on Sunday.

Chicago: Merck is in discussions with various global health authorities about making its COVID antiviral pill molnupiravir available as an Ebola treatment to address the widening outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo, a senior executive told Reuters.

The outbreak, which has so far infected a suspected 1,100 people and ‌resulted in ⁠42 deaths, ⁠involves a rare strain of the virus called Bundibugyo for which there are ​no approved vaccines or treatments.

"Molnupiravir is a non-specific RNA virus drug. We're thinking about ​how we could use that," Eliav Barr, chief medical officer at Merck Research Laboratories, said in an interview at the American Society for ​Clinical Oncology meeting in Chicago on Sunday.

Merck makes an Ebola vaccine called Ervebo, which is approved for use against the more ​common Zaire ​Ebola virus. Barr said ⁠the technology behind the vaccine may be useful in developing a new vaccine.

"They may be able to alter it. We're looking at that," ​he said.

Barr called the growing outbreak "very frightening," noting that the company has HIV research sites in Uganda across one of Africa's great lakes bordering the DRC. Uganda has already had nine confirmed cases of Ebola and one death.

"We're watching with trepidation," he said.