China's 1st Ebola drug obtains manufacturing approval

China's first drug against Ebola has recently obtained manufacturing approval as a special medication for the People's Liberation Army. The drug named "JK-05" has been developed by the Institute of Microbiology Epidemiology under Academy of Military Medical Sciences.

For the last five years, Professor Wang Hongquan, led a research team, studying the prevention and treatment of the Ebola virus—one of the most virulent viral diseases known to humankind.

"JK-05 is a micro-molecular chemical, and its pharmacological mechanism is to selectively contain the RNA polymerase of the Ebola virus so as to inhibit virus replication," Academy of Military Medical Sciences Prof. Wang Hongquan said.

According to Wang's study JK-05 resisted the replication of Ebola cells during cell experiments and testing on animals.

It has also completed both pre-clinical testing and clinical safety evaluation.

Wang stressed that the application of the drug for Ebola treatment is only allowed in emergency situations at the present time. But the war against the epidemic is one fought on many other fronts.

"Countries bordering the affected countries are more likely to have people moving across. So they have to be extra aware. But the WHO has asked all countries in the world to be prepared in the event of an Ebola case," WHO Spokesman Nyka Alexander said.

Over 1,500 people in West Africa have already lost their lives to the virus. No Ebola cases have been reported in China so far, but authorities are on guard taking every measure possible, to shield the country from this virulent epidemic.