NITD008 is orally bioavailable and has good pharmacokinetic properties. NITD008 exhibits the best pharmacokinetic parameters when formulated using 6 N of HCl (1.5 equimolar amount), 1 N of NaOH (pH adjusted to 3.5), and 100 mM citrate buffer (pH 3.5). Following i.v. injection, NITD008 has a high volume of distribution (3.71 L/kg) and a low systemic clearance (31.11 mL/min per kg), resulting in a long elimination half-life (t1/2=4.99 h). After p.o. dosing, NITD008 is rapidly absorbed (time of peak plasma concentration=0.5 h), with a maximal plasma concentration of 3 μM and bioavailability of 48%. Treatment of the mice immediately after viral infection with 1 mg/kg of NITD008 does not reduce mortality, but treatment with 3 mg/kg partially protects and treatment with ≥10 mg/kg completely protects the infected mice from death. NITD008 can suppress peak viremia, decrease cytokine elevation, and prevent death.