Can a new drug help fight measles?

A new drug candidate, GHP-88310, has shown promise in preventing measles transmission, according to a study published in Nature Microbiology. The drug, which inhibits the viral polymerase, was administered either before or after exposure to canine distemper virus, a disease with similar symptoms to measles in ferrets. The study, conducted by researchers at Georgia State University, found that GHP-88310 effectively blocked both direct contact and airborne transmission of the virus.

Additionally, the drug reduced the period during which infected animals could spread the disease. Senior author Richard Plemper emphasized the importance of quickly halting measles outbreaks to regain control over the virus. The findings, which demonstrate the drug's potential to augment traditional vaccination efforts, provide hope in light of recent measles outbreaks in the United States, Canada, and Mexico.

First author Carolin Lieber noted that the drug's effectiveness in preventing airborne transmission is unprecedented for a viral polymerase inhibitor. The researchers are now preparing GHP-88310 for clinical trials, with funding from the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) of the National Institutes of Health (NIH).