Tecovirimat fails to improve mpox resolution in clinical study
- The ACTG presented findings from a phase 3 clinical trial on tecovirimat's effectiveness for treating mpox.
- The study found that tecovirimat did not result in improved resolution of mpox lesions or better pain management.
- The results indicate a need for alternative treatments for mpox and highlight the importance of randomized clinical trials during infectious disease outbreaks.
In the United States, specifically in San Francisco, the ACTG presented data on March 12, 2025, regarding a clinical trial assessing the efficacy of tecovirimat for treating mpox, a viral infection. The findings emerged from the STOMP trial, which was a phase 3, randomized, placebo-controlled, and double-blind study involving participants who had contracted mpox symptoms within the last 14 days. Participants were either given tecovirimat or a placebo, with the study lasting 14 days to determine any effects on the resolution of mpox lesions. The results concluded that tecovirimat did not facilitate a quicker resolution of mpox lesions, nor did it improve pain management for patients suffering from clade II mpox. Notably, the study reported no safety concerns and no fatalities in either treatment group. Among the participants, more than two-thirds identified as male, while a significant portion had concurrent HIV infections. The trial's design and execution highlighted the importance of thorough research during public health emergencies. Despite initial hopes for tecovirimat as an effective treatment for mpox, the findings underscore that more research is necessary to identify alternative therapeutic options for mpox and other orthopoxviruses. The research could have implications for future responses to outbreaks of infectious diseases. ACTG emphasized the ability of clinical trials like STOMP to rapidly adapt and provide critical data during ongoing health crises. To gain further insight into the variables surrounding mpox resolution, additional analyses of factors such as age, vaccination status, and duration of symptoms were conducted. However, these investigations did not reveal any significant predictors associated with the resolution of mpox among those receiving tecovirimat. This suggests that understanding the dynamics of mpox requires more extensive research into host and disease factors, and it may lead to important advancements in treatment and disease management for the future.