# Optimizing Ridaifen-B analogs as potential therapeutics for Ebola viruses

> **NIH NIH R01** · UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS AT CHICAGO · 2023 · $780,190

## Abstract

Summary
Ebola virus disease (EVD) is caused by an infection with a group of viruses within the
genus Ebolavirus. There are at least five species of Ebolavirus, Ebola virus (Zaire,
EBOV), Ebola Sudan (SUDV), Bundibugyo virus (BDBV), Reston virus and Tai Forest
virus (TAFV). Infections with these viruses can cause severe hemorrhagic fevers in
humans and nonhuman primates, and are associated with up to 90% mortality rates with
EBOV. Because of the safety concerns, these viruses are designated as the biosafety
level 4 agents. Currently there is no effective therapeutic treatments against Ebola virus
infection and pathogenesis in humans. Thus the goal of this application is to develop
GP-specific small molecule inhibitors as drugs which can be used prophylactically and
therapeutically against EBOV and other Ebola virus infections. To achieve this, we
screened an in-house library of small molecules, and identified numerous potent entry
inhibitors against EBOV. We have identified a series of potent compounds and will use
them as leads which will be chemically optimized and developed as an anti-Ebola virus
therapy candidate. In this application, two specific aims are proposed: (1) structure-
based optimization of the lead compounds, and (2) In vivo evaluation of the lead
compounds against EBOV infection using animal models.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10708178
- **Project number:** 5R01AI168362-02
- **Recipient organization:** UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS AT CHICAGO
- **Principal Investigator:** Lijun Rong
- **Activity code:** R01 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2023
- **Award amount:** $780,190
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 2022-09-20 → 2027-07-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10708178

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10708178, Optimizing Ridaifen-B analogs as potential therapeutics for Ebola viruses (5R01AI168362-02). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-23 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10708178. Licensed CC0.

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