Scientists move closer to developing the 1st therapeutic drug for measles

Researchers at Georgia State University have reported the successful testing of the experimental antiviral drug GHP-88310, which has the potential to become the first effective therapeutic treatment for measles. The findings were published in the peer-reviewed journal Nature Microbiology, El.kz reports .

The drug has so far been evaluated in ferrets using the canine distemper virus, a close relative of the measles virus that causes a clinically similar disease in animals. During the study, GHP-88310 completely prevented transmission of the virus between animals, including via airborne respiratory droplets.

The drug works by inhibiting the viral polymerase, an enzyme essential for viral replication. According to the research team, the treatment proved effective when administered both before and after exposure to the virus. In addition, it reduced disease severity and shortened the period during which infected animals were capable of transmitting the virus to others.

“This outcome is unprecedented for a viral polymerase inhibitor and demonstrates the drug’s exceptional antiviral potency,”  Caroline Lieber, co-author of the study said.

Despite these promising results, researchers emphasize that the drug is not intended to replace vaccination. Measles remains one of the most highly contagious infectious diseases worldwide, and declining vaccination coverage in recent years has contributed to renewed outbreaks in many countries. The public health risk posed by measles extends beyond its characteristic symptoms, such as high fever and rash. The virus can partially erase immune memory, leaving individuals more susceptible to other infectious diseases after recovery.