The analysis of seven cases of monkeypox recorded in Great Britain between 2018 and 2021 shows some benefits of therapy with one of the antivirals (tecovirimat) developed for human smallpox and used 'off label' on these patients.
According to a study coordinated by Nick Price of Guy's & St Thomas' NHS Foundation Trust, tecovirimat therapy could reduce the duration of symptoms and contagiousness.
This is reported in The Lancet Infectious Diseases journal.
ANSA agency
Smallpox of monkeys: six cases, one also in Lombardy.
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The experts tested two antivirals developed for smallpox, brincidofovir and tecovirimat, suggesting that brincidofovir had no significant effects.
While public health officials are trying to understand the cause of the ongoing monkeypox outbreaks in Europe and North America - which have affected several patients who have reported neither traveling nor having a connection to a previously known case. - This study offers the first information on the use of antivirals to treat monkeypox in humans, says lead author Hugh Adler of Liverpool University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust.
In this work the use of the two antivirals was investigated on 7 cases of monkeypox, of which 4 imported from Africa and the remaining three resulting from direct human-to-human infection in the United Kingdom.
These were mild cases, although managed in hospital in isolation conditions to avoid the spread of the virus.
Experts used the two antivirals designed for human smallpox off label to verify their effectiveness on that of monkeys, given that in the past the two antivirals were effective in tests on animals.
It was found that one of the two antivirals - tecovirimat - could reduce the duration of symptoms and contagiousness in monkeypox patients.
Now that cases of monkeypox are increasing in several countries it is important to have clinical trial data and "we are delighted to share some of our collective experiences in managing this previously rare and sporadic disease," the authors conclude.
