Lipid Nanoparticle Therapeutic Treats Ebola in Monkeys

NIH | MAY 10, 2015

A team led by Dr. Thomas Geisbert at the University of Texas Medical Branch (UTMB) at Galveston, in collaboration with Tekmira Pharmaceuticals in Vancouver, Canada, have been developing therapies that can target specific strains of the Ebola virus.

The strategy uses molecules called small interfering RNA (siRNA). These are short pieces of RNA designed and built with specific sequences that “interfere” with production of key proteins crucial for survival of the virus without interfering with any processes in uninfected cells.

The Tekmira team developed a new siRNA treatment, called siEbola-3, against the Makona outbreak strain of Ebola. Directly administering siRNAs can cause harmful immune responses. Thus the team encapsulated the siRNAs in lipid nanoparticles for safer delivery.

Monkeys treated 3 days after virus exposure—at which point they showed evidence of advanced disease—developed only mild symptoms and fully recovered. The animals showed less liver and kidney damage than normally occurs during an Ebola infection.

The siEbola-3 agent is currently being administered to Ebola-infected patients in Sierra Leone in a phase 2 study.

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