Antiviral Drug News and Research

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Long-term low-dose antiviral treatment reduces eye disease risk from shingles

Long-term, low-dose antiviral treatment reduces the risk for potentially vision-damaging bouts of inflammation and infection, as well as pain, which occur when shingles affects the eye, according to new research presented October 19 at the annual meeting of the American Academy of Ophthalmology (AAO) in Chicago.

20 Oct 2024

New study links persistent SARS-CoV-2 proteins to long COVID symptoms

Brigham researchers found people with wide-ranging long COVID symptoms were twice as likely to have SARS-CoV-2 proteins in their blood, compared to those without long COVID symptoms.

9 Oct 2024

Antiviral drug molnupiravir linked to new mutations in SARS-CoV-2

Molnupiravir, an antiviral drug used to treat patients with COVID-19, appears to be driving SARS-CoV-2 to mutate and evolve, with some of these new viruses being transmitted onwards, a new study has shown.

26 Sep 2024

Drug-resistant SARS-CoV-2 variants found in immunocompromised patients

Individuals with compromised immunity and persistent COVID-19 infections can harbor drug-resistant variants of the SARS-CoV-2 virus, which have the potential to spread to the general population found researchers at Weill Cornell Medicine, the College of Veterinary Medicine at Cornell University and the National Institutes of Health's (NIH) National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID).

18 Sep 2024

Cardiovascular risks of COVID-19 antivirals

Study reviews cardiovascular side effects linked to antiviral therapies for COVID-19, highlighting the need for careful consideration when prescribing these drugs to high-risk patients.

16 Sep 2024

Molnupiravir reduces long-term COVID-19 symptoms but shows limited impact on hospitalizations

Molnupiravir treatment for COVID-19 shows modest long-term benefits, reducing symptoms and improving well-being at three and six months. However, the differences were small, with no impact on hospitalization rates.

11 Sep 2024

Unraveling the mystery of viral evolution

All organisms -; from fungi to mammals -; have the capacity to evolve and adapt to their environments. But viruses are master shapeshifters with the ability to mutate greater than any other organism. As a result, they can evade treatments or acquire resistance to once-effective antiviral medications.

28 Aug 2024

CNRS scientists uncover activation mechanism of bemnifosbuvir

CNRS Scientists have deciphered the activation pathway of bemnifosbuvir, a drug candidate initially in development to treat hepatitis C virus (HCV). The findings of the research team, led by CNRS scientists, unlock new opportunities to boost the efficacy of this type of drug against other RNA viruses, such as the ones that cause Covid-19 and dengue fever.

28 Aug 2024

First meeting of the International Health Regulations Emergency Committee reports on mpox surge

The Director-General of the World Health Organization (WHO), having concurred with the advice offered by the International Health Regulations (2005) (IHR or Regulations) Emergency Committee regarding the upsurge of mpox 2024 during its first meeting, held on 14 August 2024, has determined, on the same date, that the ongoing upsurge of mpox in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) and in a growing number of countries in Africa constitutes a public health emergency of international concern (PHEIC) under the provisions of the Regulations.

20 Aug 2024

Tecovirimat shows no significant impact on mpox lesion duration in DRC study

The antiviral drug tecovirimat did not reduce the duration of mpox lesions among children and adults with clade I mpox in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), based on an initial analysis of data from a randomized, placebo-controlled trial.

16 Aug 2024

Korean researchers accelerate race for respiratory disease cures

The COVID-19 pandemic has profoundly impacted our lives, claiming nearly 7.1 million lives globally. Scientists and medical professionals have been working tirelessly to understand the virus, its transmission pathways, and effective treatments. The urgency of developing vaccines and treatments has never been greater, prompting calls for Korea to expedite its drug development efforts to match those of developed countries. Recently, a team of Korean researchers has made a breakthrough that will greatly enhance the efficiency of respiratory disease research, garnering attention.

9 Aug 2024

Efficacy and safety of nirmatrelvir/ritonavir in treating COVID-19: A systematic review

SARS-CoV-2, the virus responsible for the COVID-19 pandemic, remains in circulation.

22 Jul 2024

Host RNA incorporation linked to chronic hepatitis E infection

If the virus incorporates host genetic segments into its genome, the infection may become chronic.

10 Jun 2024

Stanford study finds 15-day paxlovid treatment safe but ineffective for long COVID

In a clinical trial conducted by Stanford Medicine investigators and their colleagues, a 15-day course of Paxlovid -; an antiviral drug combination targeting SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19 -; proved safe as an extended-duration treatment but didn't lessen select symptoms of the syndrome known as long COVID: the persistence, or reappearance, of COVID-related symptoms three months or more after an initial COVID-19 infection.

7 Jun 2024

Novel small molecule oral antiviral could be a game-changer in the fight against future pandemics

Obeldesivir (GS-5245), a novel investigational small molecule oral antiviral, represents a new tool in the ongoing effort to prepare for future pandemics.

4 Jun 2024

Super-resolution microscopy offers high-resolution view of virus replication inside cells

A new, nano-scale look at how the SARS-CoV-2 virus replicates in cells may offer greater precision in drug development, a Stanford University team reports in Nature Communications.

31 May 2024

The chicken and egg problem of fighting another flu pandemic

Even a peep of news about a new flu pandemic is enough to set scientists clucking about eggs.

31 May 2024

After grilling an NIH scientist over covid emails, Congress turns to Anthony Fauci

Former National Institutes of Health official Anthony Fauci has faced many hostile questions from members of Congress, but when he appears before a House panel on Monday, he'll have something new to answer for: a trove of incendiary emails written by one of his closest advisers.

31 May 2024

Unraveling the link between HLA genes and drug eruptions

Although medications can often help patients find a cure or respite from their condition, millions of people worldwide suffer from unpredictable drug toxicities every year.

15 May 2024

Why covid patients who could most benefit from paxlovid still aren’t getting it

Evangelical minister Eddie Hyatt believes in the healing power of prayer but "also the medical approach." So on a February evening a week before scheduled prostate surgery, he had his sore throat checked out at an emergency room near his home in Grapevine, Texas.

11 Mar 2024