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A Liberian man diagnosed with Ebola in Texas has received an experimental drug, officials said. This is the first time a medicine has been used to fight the deadly virus in human.

The patient is in critical but stable condition, Texas Health spokeswoman Candace White said in a brief statement to reporters. 

"He is now receiving an investigational medication, brincidofovir," she said.

The drug has been prepared by the North Carolina-based pharmaceutical company Chimerix.

Brincidofovir is currently in phase three trials against cytomegalovirus (CMV) and adenovirus, the company said on its website adding that for Ebola infections it has only been evaluated in test-tubes, not animals or humans. 

"The drug works by keeping viruses from creating additional copies of themselves," the company said.

Three American missionaries who were treated for Ebola in United States were given other experimental treatments. 

The press release added that the supply of one promising drug, ZMapp, has run out. 

Currently West Africa is battling the largest outbreak of Ebola in history. The hemorrhagic virus has taken more than 3,300 lives so far since the start of the year.