FDA Approves Oral Antiviral to Prevent COVID-19 After Exposure

- The FDA has approved ensitrelvir, an oral antiviral medication specifically designed to prevent COVID-19 after a person has been exposed to the virus.
- Approval follows the phase III SCORPIO-PEP trial, which demonstrated that the drug reduced the risk of developing COVID-19 by more than half for individuals who were household contacts of an infected person.
- This marks a significant shift in prevention strategy, though the medication is currently not approved for treating active COVID-19 infections within the U.S.
- The drug provides a new pharmacological tool for high-risk individuals to avoid illness following exposure, filling a gap between vaccination and active treatment.
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