Specialty biopharmaceutical company RedHill Biopharma Ltd. (Nasdaq:RDHL) announced on Monday that the Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority (BARDA) selected its drug opaganib for development to treat Ebola virus disease.

BARDA will partially fund the advancement of opaganib under a cost-sharing contract to help combat Ebola outbreaks. Opaganib has shown progress through the Animal Rule pathway, enabling potential FDA approval using pivotal animal studies when human trials are not feasible.

In a U.S. Army study, opaganib significantly increased survival in an in vivo Ebola model, marking it as the first host-directed molecule to show activity against the virus. Recent studies also demonstrated a synergistic effect when combined with remdesivir, enhancing potency while maintaining cell viability. Opaganib is being developed for several other indications, including oncology, viral infections and COVID-19.

Federal funds from the Department of Health and Human Services support the project under contract number 75A50124C00059.