The present invention is related to the development of therapeutics and prophylactics for the treatment and/or prevention of filovirus infection in humans and other mammals. A new class of small molecules is disclosed that inhibits the interaction of naturally processed (i.e., proteolytically cleaved) filovirus glycoprotein (GPCL) with its host receptor Niemann-Pick C1 (NPC1) protein and thus block infection of host cells by filoviruses. Also disclosed are methods of using the small molecule inhibitors in the treatment/prevention of filovirus infection.