REACTION · Project

Repurposing an Existing Antiviral Drug to Fight Ebola Outbreaks Fast

healthTestedTRL 5

Imagine there's a deadly virus spreading and you have no medicine for it — but you do have a flu drug sitting on shelves that might work. That's exactly what REACTION tested: taking Favipiravir, a drug already approved in Japan for influenza, and checking whether it could also stop Ebola. The team ran clinical tests in both lab animals and human patients during the 2014 West African outbreak. They also tackled the human side — figuring out how to deliver care in a way that communities would actually accept.

By the numbers

20,000+

patients treatable with existing Favipiravir stock

2,000+

patients tested with excellent safety profile

consortium partners across the project

countries involved in the consortium

total project deliverables produced

The business problem

What needed solving

Ebola outbreaks can explode before new drugs are developed — the 2014 West African crisis proved that. Companies and governments need access to treatments that are already manufactured, safety-tested, and ready to deploy at scale. The gap between having a promising compound and having clinical proof it works against Ebola was costing lives and creating massive economic disruption.

The solution

What was built

The project produced clinical trial data on Favipiravir's efficacy against Ebola in both non-human primates and human patients during an active outbreak. It also developed an intervention design for delivering culturally acceptable care in West African communities, documented across 18 deliverables.

Audience

Who needs this

Pharmaceutical companies with antiviral portfolios seeking repurposing opportunitiesGovernment biodefense agencies stockpiling pandemic countermeasuresContract research organizations running trials in outbreak settingsGlobal health NGOs planning Ebola response strategiesInsurance and reinsurance firms modeling pandemic risk exposure

Business applications

Who can put this to work

Pharmaceutical Manufacturing

enterprise

Target: Antiviral drug manufacturers and generic producers

If you are a pharmaceutical company looking to expand your antiviral portfolio — this project generated clinical evidence on Favipiravir's efficacy against Ebola, a drug already tested in more than 2,000 patients for safety. The repurposing pathway demonstrated here can significantly reduce your R&D timeline and costs compared to developing a new compound from scratch. This is a ready-made case study for drug repurposing strategies against emerging threats.

Pandemic Preparedness & Biodefense

enterprise

Target: Government health agencies and biodefense contractors

If you are a biodefense organization responsible for stockpiling treatments against biological threats — this project evaluated a drug with existing stock sufficient for more than 20,000 patients, with a manufacturer willing to rapidly upscale production. The clinical data from real outbreak conditions provides the evidence base you need for procurement decisions. The 13-partner consortium across 6 countries shows this was validated internationally.

Clinical Research Services

mid-size

Target: Contract research organizations (CROs) specializing in infectious disease trials

If you are a CRO that runs clinical trials in outbreak settings — this project built operational knowledge for conducting drug evaluations during a live Ebola crisis in West Africa, including Senegal. The intervention design for culturally acceptable care delivery is a reusable asset for future emergency trials. With 18 deliverables covering both clinical and sociocultural dimensions, the methodology is well documented.

Frequently asked

Quick answers

What would it cost to license or access Favipiravir for Ebola treatment?

Favipiravir is produced by Toyama Chemical/Fujifilm in Japan and is already approved there for influenza. Licensing terms for Ebola indication would need to be negotiated with Fujifilm directly. Based on available project data, the drug has existing manufacturing infrastructure and stockpiles, which could lower entry costs compared to a novel compound.

Can Favipiravir production scale to meet a major outbreak?

Yes — the project data states there is enough existing stock to treat more than 20,000 patients, and the producer Toyama Chemical/Fujifilm was willing to rapidly upscale production. This is a significant advantage over experimental drugs that exist only in small batches.

Who owns the intellectual property from this research?

The clinical trial data and results are held by the consortium led by INSERM (France's national health research institute). Favipiravir itself is patented by Toyama Chemical/Fujifilm. Any commercial use of the REACTION clinical findings would require engagement with both the consortium and the drug manufacturer.

What regulatory approvals does Favipiravir have?

Favipiravir is approved in Japan for treatment and prevention of influenza. For Ebola use, the drug was evaluated under emergency clinical trial conditions during the 2014 outbreak. Based on available project data, regulatory approval for Ebola indication would require additional steps beyond what this project covered.

How long did the clinical evaluation take?

The project ran from November 2014 to October 2017, a 3-year period. The work began as an emergency response to the West African Ebola outbreak and continued with longer-term evaluation and sociocultural research.

What safety data exists for this drug?

The project data reports an excellent safety profile based on testing in more than 2,000 patients for influenza. No major adverse effects were reported in those trials. The REACTION project added Ebola-specific clinical data from outbreak conditions.

Can this approach be applied to other emerging viruses?

Favipiravir has proven activity against many RNA viruses both in vivo and in vitro, including Ebola. The drug repurposing methodology demonstrated here — taking an approved drug and fast-tracking it against a new pathogen — is a replicable model for future outbreaks of RNA-based viruses.

Consortium

Who built it

The REACTION consortium brings together 13 partners from 6 countries (France, Germany, Netherlands, UK, Switzerland, and Senegal — notably including a West African partner where Ebola was active). The group is heavily research-oriented with 7 universities and 5 research organizations, led by INSERM, France's premier biomedical research institute. Industry presence is minimal at just 8% (1 industrial partner, 2 SMEs), which means commercialization would require new industry partnerships. The inclusion of Senegal signals real-world field testing capability, not just lab work. For a business looking to build on these results, the consortium offers strong scientific credibility but would need commercial partners to bring an Ebola-indication product to market.

INSTITUT NATIONAL DE LA SANTE ET DE LA RECHERCHE MEDICALECoordinator · FR
ECOLE NORMALE SUPERIEURE DE LYONparticipant · FR
RUPRECHT-KARLS-UNIVERSITAET HEIDELBERGparticipant · DE
Department of Healthparticipant · UK
INSTITUT PASTEURparticipant · FR
FONDATION POUR L INSTITUT DE HAUTES ETUDES INTERNATIONALES ET DU DEVELOPPEMENTparticipant · CH
DRUG DISCOVERY FACTORY BVparticipant · NL
UNIVERSITE D'AIX MARSEILLEparticipant · FR
UNIVERSITEIT UTRECHTparticipant · NL
BERNHARD-NOCHT-INSTITUT FUER TROPENMEDIZINparticipant · DE
CENTRE TECHNOLOGIQUE NOUVELLE-AQUITAINE COMPOSITES & MATERIAUX AVANCESparticipant · FR
UNIVERSITE CHEIKH ANTA DIOPparticipant · SN
UNIVERSITEIT VAN AMSTERDAMparticipant · NL

How to reach the team

The project is coordinated by INSERM in France. Contact SciTransfer for a facilitated introduction to the research team.

Order a report on this consortium See INSTITUT NATIONAL DE LA SANTE ET DE LA RECHERCHE MEDICALE profile →

Next steps

Talk to the team behind this work.

Want to explore drug repurposing opportunities from this Ebola research? SciTransfer can connect you with the REACTION consortium and help you evaluate licensing or partnership options.

Order a report on this topic More in Health & Biomedical