The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved Xocova (ensitrelvir) for post-exposure prophylaxis of COVID-19 in adults and adolescents aged 12 years and older following exposure to a SARS-CoV-2 infected individual. Xocova becomes the first oral antiviral approved in the United States for post-exposure prevention of COVID-19, representing a significant advancement in outpatient infectious disease management.
Mechanism of Action Ensitrelvir is a SARS-CoV-2 main protease (3CL protease/Mpro) inhibitor that blocks viral replication by inhibiting a key enzyme required for processing viral polyproteins. By inhibiting viral replication early after exposure, ensitrelvir: Reduces viral amplification Limits progression to symptomatic infection Targets early-stage infection before systemic spread Clinical Evidence Supporting Approval FDA approval was supported by data from clinical…
