JK-05

JK-05 is an experimental antiviral drug developed by the Beijing Institute of Biotechnology and the Academy of Military Medical Sciences in China. It is designed to treat and prevent diseases caused by some filoviruses, including the Ebola virus and the Marburg virus.

Development

JK-05 was developed in response to the 2014–2016 Ebola virus epidemic in West Africa, which highlighted the need for effective treatments for filovirus diseases. The drug is named after Jiangsu Kanion Pharmaceutical, the company that manufactures it.

Mechanism of Action

JK-05 works by inhibiting the replication of the virus. It does this by blocking the action of a viral enzyme called RNA polymerase, which is necessary for the virus to reproduce.

Clinical Trials

In 2015, JK-05 was approved for emergency use in China, and it was also included in the national stockpile of emergency medicines. However, as of 2021, it has not yet been approved for general use, as it is still undergoing clinical trials.

See Also

• Ebola virus disease
• Marburg virus disease
• Antiviral drug
• RNA polymerase