HTB

Tecovirimat for treating mild monkeypox: new studies open in the UK and US

Simon Collins, HIV i-Base

On 23 August 2022, the PLATIMUM study was launched in the UK to look at using tecovirimat to treat monkeypox (MPX). [1]

This study plans to randomise 500 people (1:1) with mild MPX to either tecovirimat or matching placebo. Follow-up is for 28 days.

Participants need a referral from their doctor, but no further clinic visits are needed. This means that anyone who is self-isolating can still take part. The referral email is simple and only takes a few minutes (www.platinumtrial.ox.ac.uk/healthcare-workers2).

Although tecovirimat interacts with some HIV medications (darunavir, rilpivirine and maraviroc) these are either not cliniclly important or can be easily managed.

Other drugs with potential interactions include: bupropion. repaglinide, voriconazole, midazolam, atorvastatin, tacrolimus, methadone, flurbiprofen, erectile drugs (sildenafil, tadalafil, vardenafil) and proton pump inhibitors (lansoprazole, omeprazole, rabeprazole).

Anyone with severe MPX, especially if hospitalised, should have named-patient access to tecovirimat without needing to join a placebo-controlled study.

Further participant information and the study protocol are available online.

In the US, the phase 3 STOMP study is randomising 530 adults and children with MPX (2:1) to either tecovirimat or placebo. It asks people to send photographs of their symptoms as part of the ongoing monitoring. [2, 3]

comment

Several studies have already reported anecdotal evidence on potential benefits of tecovirimat to treat MPX, also supported in animal studies for smallpox. [4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9]

This includes, as we went to press, a review of open-label use of tecovirimat in 549 participants in the US, reported in MMWR. Data is included for about 350 people. [9]

This makes results from a randomised study essential in order to be able to inform future access and use. This is a very study to refer people to – only a standard email – but the referral is needed.

Results should similarly be compiled from open-label use, although these will be more limited.

The PLATINUM study is also linked to a similar study in Canada. [10]

References

  1. The PLATINUM study website.
    platinumtrial.ox.ac.uk
  2. Study of Tecovirimat for Human Monkeypox Virus (STOMP)?
    www.stomptpoxx.org
  3. A5418:Study Of Tecovirimat For Human Monkeypox Virus (STOMP)
    clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT05534984
  4. Seven cases of monkeypox virus in the UK from 2018 to 2021. HTB (1 June 2022).
    i-base.info/htb/42959
  5. Desai AN et al. Compassionate use of tecovirimat for the treatment of monkeypox infection. JAMA. doi:10.1001/jama.2022.15336. (22 August
    2022).
    jamanetwork.com/journals/jama/fullarticle/2795743
  6. Thornhill JP et al for the SHARE-net clinical group. Monkeypox virus infection in humans across 16 countries — April–June 2022. NEJM, doi: DOI:
    1056/NEJMoa2207323. (21 July 2022).
    www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMoa2207323
  7. Lucer J et al. Monkeypox virus–associated severe proctitis treated with oral tecovirimat: a report of two cases. Letter. Annals Internal Medicine. doi.org/10.7326/L22-0300. (18 August 2022).
    www.acpjournals.org/doi/10.7326/L22-0300
  8. Grosenbach DW et al. Oral tecovirimat for the treatment of smallpox. N Engl J Med 2018;379:44-53.
    www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMoa1705688
  9. O’Laughlin K et al. Clinical use of tecovirimat (Tpoxx) for treatment of monkeypox under an investigational new drug protocol — United States, May–August 2022. MMWR Morb Mortal Wkly Rep. ePub: 9 September 2022. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.15585/mmwr.mm7137e1
  10. ClinicalTrials.org. Tecovirimat in non-hospitalized patients with monkeypox. (PLATINUM-CAN).
    clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT05534165

This page was updated on 11 September to includ US and Canadian studies.

Links to other websites are current at date of posting but not maintained.