antiviral news

Shionogi said on April 1 that it has initiated the rolling submission of a new drug application in the US for its oral antiviral Xocova (ensitrelvir) for an additional indication of post-exposure prophylaxis for COVID-19.

Ensitrelvir reduced transmission of SARS-CoV-2 by 67% when given to uninfected household contacts of a person with COVID-19 within 3 days of that person developing symptoms, researchers reported.

Shionogi said on March 27 that it has filed its oral antiviral Xocova (ensitrelvir) for an additional indication of post-exposure prophylaxis for COVID-19 in Japan.

Traws Pharma, Inc. (NASDAQ: TRAW) (“Traws Pharma”, “Traws” or “the Company”), a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company developing novel therapies to target critical threats to human health from respiratory viral diseases, today announced that positive data supporting the potential for ratutrelvir, a main protease inhibitor, as a treatment for COVID-19, were presented on March 20, 2025 in a poster at the International Conference for Antiviral Research (ICAR 2025), held in Las Vegas, Nevada.

A total of 9% of placebo recipients contracted COVID-19 from a household member, compared with 2.9% of ensitrelvir recipients, for a 67% risk reduction.

Although safe and effective vaccines for SARS-CoV-2 have been successfully developed, there are currently no therapeutic approaches available for treating acute infection, particularly for individuals at high risk of severe disease progression, and for preparedness against a potential new coronavirus pandemic.