Hyundai Bioscience USA has pledged to provide its broad-spectrum antiviral candidate, XAFTY (CP-COV03), free of charge— along with full funding for rapid clinical trials—to support the World Health Organization (WHO) and African health authorities responding to the ongoing Ebola crisis, following expert recommendations that the drug should be urgently tested.
The company's decision follows a proposal from Dr. Davey Smith, a virologist and clinical trial expert at the University of California San Diego, who urged immediate evaluation of XAFTY as a potential therapeutic or preventive option for Ebola patients under WHO's emergency-use framework.
A Rapid-Response Proposal Backed by Emergency-Use Guidelines
Dr.Smith recommended that XAFTY be tested under the WHO's Monitored Emergency Use of Unregistered and Experimental Interventions (MEURI) pathway, which allows the use of unapproved drugs during fatal outbreaks when no treatment alternatives exist and when early scientific and safety data are available.
According to the company, XAFTY meets these criteria because:
-It has demonstrated strong in-vitro antiviral activity against Ebola, with potency even greater than against COVID-19.
-It has an established human safety profile, supported by a completed 300-patient COVID-19 clinical trial in Korea.
Hyundai Bioscience USA stated it is prepared to supply the drug immediately upon request from WHO or local authorities.
Company-Funded Trials to Accelerate Evaluation
If WHO or affected countries determine that a rapid clinical trial is preferable to immediate emergency use, Hyundai Bioscience USA has agreed to fully fund and deploy a local clinical trial to shorten timelines that typically delay crisis-response research.
The company emphasized that XAFTY can enter trials quickly because its safety has already been established, allowing it to bypass animal-efficacy testing under International Council for Harmonisation (ICH) emergency provisions.
Why XAFTY Is Being Considered for Ebola
XAFTY's active ingredient, niclosamide, has shown broad antiviral activity across 33 viruses from 16 viral families, supporting its potential as a universal antiviral candidate.
Dr. Smith noted that the severity and rapid spread of Ebola—combined with limited treatment options—justify urgent testing of a therapy that has both broad-spectrum potential and pre-established human safety.
Company Statement
Jason Kim, President of Hyundai Bioscience USA, said the company's decision reflects the urgency of the crisis: "In high-fatality diseases such as Ebola, treatment opportunities must not be missed because of procedures and costs."
He added that providing the drug free of charge and funding trials is intended to "save as many lives as possible" during a rapidly evolving outbreak.
The company also noted that its clinical-grade supply of XAFTY is stored in compliance with regulatory standards and ready for immediate distribution.
Source: PR Newswire
For comments and feedback contact: editorial@rttnews.com
Business News
June 12, 2026 17:14 ET Major central bank action was the focus this week in economic news. The European Central Bank became the first major central bank to move in response to the rising inflationary pressures in the backdrop of the conflict in the Middle East. In North America, the U.S. inflation and trade data as well as Canada’s central bank decision gained attention. The Chinese trade data was the main news in Asia.