- New exploratory analysis of Phase 3 SCORPIO-SR study data in Asia suggests that ensitrelvir may reduce the risk of persistent and new late-onset symptoms associated with long COVID over one year
- Small study in Japanese population suggests ensitrelvir as a potential treatment option in COVID-19 hospitalized patients with significant co-morbidities who did not respond to first-line treatment with remdesivir
Effect on Long COVID Symptoms
Alternative Option for High-Risk COVID-19 Hospitalized Patients with Co-Morbidities
The study included 21 high-risk hospitalized patients with COVID-19 infections who did not respond to at least three days of remdesivir treatment and then received five days of ensitrelvir treatment (Day 0 to Day 4). In this group, the average age was 78 years, the majority were vaccinated (76.2%), COVID-19 severity was mild or moderate, and many had co-morbidities (33.3% had malignant tumors, 19.0% had either kidney disease or renal failure, 23.8% used systemic corticosteroids). After receiving five days of ensitrelvir 125 mg, which followed at least three days of remdesivir administration, all 21 patients showed clinical improvement by Day 5. No deaths or drug-related adverse events were observed at Day 28, but one person later died in the hospital at Day 59.6
Viral clearance was achieved (antigen level <89.73 pg/mL) by Day 5 in 14 patients (66.7%), two of whom experienced viral rebound without clinical rebound by Day 13. This data, although limited, suggest the potential of ensitrelvir treatment for certain high-risk patients hospitalized with mild-or-moderate COVID-19, who did not respond to antiviral therapy with remdesivir.6
“While certain treatments are available for high-risk people with COVID-19 to reduce the risk of becoming seriously ill, additional treatment options are needed,” said Masaya Yamato, Director of the Infectious Diseases Center at Rinku General Medical Center, Osaka, and investigator on the Shionogi trials. “These results indicate the potential for ensitrelvir to help address these needs.”
About Ensitrelvir
About the Ensitrelvir Clinical Development Program
About Shionogi in Infectious Disease
Forward-Looking Statements
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