Georgia State University researchers have developed an experimental oral antiviral drug that prevents measles-like viruses from spreading between ferrets through both close contact and the air. The treatment also reduced symptoms when given immediately before or after exposure.
The survey results are natural microbiologyby scientists at the Center for Translational Antiviral Research (CTAR). Their research focused on canine distemper virus, which causes a measles-like disease in ferrets.
Antiviral drugs block two routes of infection
The researchers tested a recently developed drug candidate called GHP-88310 (described in Science Advances). This drug is a broad-spectrum inhibitor of viral polymerase, an enzyme necessary for virus replication.
The research team looked at whether the prophylactic use of drugs (just before or after exposure) could prevent transmission through direct contact or shared air. GHP-88310 successfully blocked both forms of spread. Using the drug to treat animals that were already infected also shortened the period during which animals could transmit the virus.
“It is essential that measles outbreaks are rapidly suppressed to re-establish control of the virus,” said senior author Richard Premper, Regents Professor and Director of CTAR. “This study follows the recent development of the drug candidate GHP-88310, which shows that this drug is suitable for augmenting conventional ring vaccination against measles.”
Measles outbreaks return across North America
Measles has been resurging in the United States since 2025, with thousands of infections, hundreds of hospitalizations, and three deaths in multiple states. Large outbreaks with multiple deaths have also occurred in Canada and Mexico, raising concerns about North America’s ability to remain measles-free.
“We were very excited to see that orally administered GHP-88310 completely prevented airborne transmission in a ferret measles model,” said first author Carolyn Lieber, a senior postdoctoral fellow in the Premper lab. “This discovery is unprecedented for a viral polymerase inhibitor and demonstrates the extraordinary antiviral power of this drug.”
Tests that mimic home and classroom settings
To model realistic infection situations, the researchers created a control system in which infected and uninfected animals either come into direct physical contact or share the same airspace without contact.
“We designed this study to replicate the spread of the virus between people in direct contact, such as within households, and during more distant social contacts, such as classrooms and other indoor environments that bring people together without direct contact,” Professor Premper said. “In addition to this prophylactic benefit, the use of GHP-88310 therapeutically shortened the duration of disease in our model. If similarly applicable to the human host, it could further aid outbreak management by alleviating the severe social and economic burden of prolonged isolation of patients.”
Drug candidates move towards clinical trials
Researchers are currently preparing GHP-88310 for formal clinical trials.
Other contributors to the study include Joseph Wolfe, Claire Ruckel, and Lauren Harrison of the Center for Translational Antiviral Research at the Georgia State Biomedical Research Institute.
This research was supported by the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) of the National Institutes of Health (NIH).
