Tecovirimat: A Potential Game-Changer in Mpox Treatment in Congo

Tecovirimat, an antiviral drug developed by Siga Technologies, showed promising results in helping severe mpox patients in Congo recover faster. The drug, also branded as TPOXX, was tested in a trial during a previous mpox outbreak. While the results were mixed, they indicated potential benefits for certain patients.

Siga Technologies' antiviral drug, tecovirimat, has shown promise in helping the most severe mpox patients recover faster, according to a recent trial in the Democratic Republic of Congo. The study revealed that patients with severe disease or those treated within seven days saw meaningful improvement compared to those given a placebo.

However, the trial results were mixed as the majority of patients did not recover quicker than those on a placebo, leading Siga's chief medical officer, Jay Varma, to stress the importance of gathering more data. Despite the mixed outcome, Varma emphasized that the drug's potential is still significant.

The trial began in 2022 amid a previous mpox outbreak declared a global health emergency by the WHO. The study included 295 patients on tecovirimat and 302 on placebo, with 75% being children, who are more susceptible to mpox complications. Detailed results from this study are expected soon, co-led by Congo's INRB and the U.S. NIH.

(With inputs from agencies.)