Mpox Outbreak in Africa: Siga’s Tpoxx Antiviral Falls Short in Congo Study

Mpox Outbreak:
The mpox outbreak has spread across Africa, with the World Health Organization (WHO) declaring it a public health emergency after cases in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) spread to nearby regions.

Tpoxx Antiviral:
Siga's antiviral drug Tpoxx (tecovirimat) did not improve the resolution of mpox lesions in a study conducted in the DRC. The drug was found to be safe but ineffective in reducing the duration of mpox lesions among children and adults with clade I mpox.

Study Details:
The PALM 007 study, sponsored by the National Institutes of Health (NIH), enrolled 597 participants with laboratory-confirmed mpox. Participants were randomly assigned to receive either tecovirimat or a placebo and were monitored closely in hospitals. Despite the drug's ineffectiveness, overall mortality was lower than expected, indicating better outcomes with high-quality supportive care.

Global Coordination:
The study was part of a globally coordinated initiative to address the 2022 mpox outbreak in the DRC. The results highlight the need for further research to identify effective therapeutic candidates for mpox.

Public Health Impact: Mpox has been a long-standing issue in Africa, with two main clades identified:
clade I, which is endemic in Central Africa and causes severe illness, and clade II, which is endemic in West Africa and results in milder illness. The recent outbreak has raised concerns about the spread of the virus and the need for effective treatments.