There is currently no cure for rabies once symptoms appear. Rabies is almost always fatal after symptoms manifest. However, timely vaccination before or shortly after exposure can effectively prevent the disease. Researchers have recently made advances toward potential treatments, including a cancer drug repurposed to inhibit the rabies virus and a promising monoclonal antibody that reversed symptoms in lab studies, but these are not yet approved cures for symptomatic rabies in humans.

Current Treatment and Prevention

• Rabies can be prevented with prompt post-exposure prophylaxis (vaccination and immunoglobulin) administered soon after a bite or exposure.
• No effective treatment exists once rabies symptoms start, and symptomatic rabies is nearly 100% fatal.
• Rabies vaccines are widely available and highly effective for prevention before symptoms develop.

Research Advances

• A Bengaluru-based lab repurposed the anticancer drug homoharringtonine that showed over 90% inhibition of the rabies virus in lab tests.
• USU researchers developed a monoclonal antibody called F11 that reversed symptoms and prevented death in mice even after the virus reached the nervous system.
• These developments offer hope for future therapies but are not yet established cures.

In summary, while there is no current cure for rabies once symptomatic, prevention through vaccination is highly effective, and research breakthroughs provide hope for future curative treatments.