Key drug used to fight last mpox outbreak found ineffective against new deadly Clade-1 strain

Latest research has shown that the antiviral drug tecovirimat, that was used in the last global mpox outbreak in 2022-23, didn’t make a noticeable difference in how long the lesions (sores) lasted for people infected with a the Clade 1 strain of mpox virus.

The drug, also known as TPOXX, was being tested to see if it could help reduce the duration of mpox symptoms in children and adults in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC).

The Clade-1 strain of the virus has been spreading in the Democratic Republic of Congo since roughly September last year.

‘Findings are disappointing, but…’

Tecovirimat was originally developed and approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to treat smallpox. Smallpox is closely related to, but much more serious than mpox.

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The study that found tecovirimat is safe, but does not improve Clade-1 mpox resolution was sponsored by the National Institutes of Health’s (NIH) National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID).

“These findings are disappointing, but they give us essential information and reinforce the need to identify other therapeutic candidates for mpox while we continue research on tecovirimat use in other populations with mpox,” said NIAID Director Jeanne Marrazzo, M.D., M.P.H.

A ray of hope

The researchers who conducted the study said that all participants received supportive care including nutrition, hydration, and treatment for secondary infections.

They noted that “Overall, mortality was lower, and lesions resolved faster than anticipated regardless of whether participants received tecovirimat or placebo.”

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This suggests that proper supportive care helps the patients survive mpox and recover from it.

Mpox emergency and its impact on children

The World Health Organisation (WHO) has declared a global health emergency due to the spread of this highly-contagious strain of mpox in parts of Africa and other regions in the world.

A recent report from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention indicated that 67 per cent of suspected DRC mpox cases and 78 per cent of suspected mpox deaths have occurred in people aged 15 years and younger.