NanoViricides Launches Phase II Clinical Trial for Ebola Treatment
News related to:NanoViricides, Inc · 2 min read
NanoViricides, Inc. is set to begin a Phase II clinical trial of its oral drug NV-387 to treat the Bundibugyo Ebola virus in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). The trial is scheduled to start next week at an Ebola Treatment Center in the Ituri province, aiming to reduce both the spread and fatalities of the current outbreak.
The Bundibugyo Ebola virus is causing an unprecedented and rapidly expanding outbreak in DRC, with a crude fatality rate as high as 48%. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), as of September 10, 2026, there have been 7,022 confirmed cases, 3,398 confirmed deaths, and 1,671 confirmed recoveries in DRC. This is a significant increase from August 14, 2026, when there were 4,945 confirmed cases and 2,325 confirmed deaths.
NV-387 is an oral drug with broad-spectrum antiviral properties, making it a promising candidate for treating Ebola. Unlike the currently available treatments, which require infusion, NV-387 can be administered orally, simplifying its use and potentially making it more accessible in resource-poor areas. The Company’s President, Anil R. Diwan, PhD, expressed hope that NV-387 could help save lives and become an important pillar in the response to the Ebola outbreak.
Patrick de Marie Chimusa Katoto. Om Sai Clinical Research Private Limited, India, is the CRO leading the trial.
The trial is registered in the Pan African Clinical Trials Registry (PACTR202608748555077). The Company anticipates that the first patient dosing with NV-387 oral gummies can occur next week, barring any impediments caused by the ongoing Ebola outbreak.
NanoViricides is not the only entity working on treatments for the Bundibugyo Ebola virus. The PARTNERS clinical trial, which began on July 2, 2026, is evaluating two drugs: a monoclonal antibody cocktail, MBP134, and Remdesivir, both administered by infusion. Approximately 300 patients have already been enrolled in this trial across four groups. However, infusions are inherently unscalable and increase the risk to healthcare workers, making an oral drug like NV-387 a more promising option.
The current Ebola outbreak is the largest and fastest-growing in DRC, with the virus now present in at least six provinces and threatening South Sudan. Over 80% of new cases are outside known contact lists, suggesting the actual extent of the outbreak is at least twice the reported number. Additionally, the virus has spread into displacement camps hosting over 4.4 million displaced persons, further exacerbating the situation.
NanoViricides believes that NV-387, with its broad-spectrum antiviral properties, could provide superior activity compared to Remdesivir infusion, which is already in the PARTNERS clinical trial. The Company’s President, Dr.
The trial is expected to be a single-arm safety and dose run-in (Phase IIA) followed by a randomised, controlled, open-label efficacy evaluation with independent blinded-endpoint adjudication (Phase IIB). The goal is to validate NV-387 as an effective treatment for the Bundibugyo Ebola virus, potentially saving lives and reducing the spread of the disease.