FDA Approves First Oral Antiviral for COVID-19 Prevention
Shionogi's Xocova (ensitrelvir) is now the first oral antiviral approved in the U.S. for COVID-19 post-exposure prophylaxis. The drug, effective for adults and adolescents 12 years and older, reduced symptomatic infection risk by 67% in a phase 3 trial. It must be taken within 72 hours of exposure to an infected individual.
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved ensitrelvir, marketed as Xocova, as the first oral antiviral medication for post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP) of COVID-19. This approval offers a new preventive option for adults and adolescents aged 12 years and older, particularly during times of heightened COVID-19 activity. In clinical trials, notably the phase 3 SCORPIO-PEP trial, Xocova showed a 67% reduction in the risk of symptomatic COVID-19 infection when taken within 72 hours of exposure. This approval arrives as the country prepares for potential seasonal increases in COVID-19 cases.
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