Antiviral Drugs for Treatment of Human Monkeypox: A Systematic Review/Meta-analysis

Antiviral Drugs for Treatment of Human Monkeypox: A Systematic Review/Meta-analysis

 

Ahmed Mohamed Abdelghany (1), Fathy Fathy Ghaly (2), Mohamed Farouk Allam (1,3)

 

1. Department of Community, Environmental and Occupational Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, October 6 University, Cairo, Egypt.

2. Menouf Fever Hospital, Menoufia, Egypt.

3. Department of Family Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Ain Shams University, Cairo, Egypt.

 

Microbes, Infection and Chemotherapy 2024;4: e1963

 

DOI: 10.54034/mic.e1963

 

Abstract

Background. On 23 July 2022, the World Health Organization declared a Public Health Emergency of International Concern. Monkeypox is a zoonotic viral disease caused by the monkeypox virus that is transmitted from animals to humans or from human to human. To date, treatment for human monkeypox is mostly symptomatic, as there is no specific standard antiviral treatment. Persons with severe symptoms and signs, immunocompromised patients, children younger than 8 years, and pregnant individuals should be considered for specific antiviral treatment. Objective. This study aims to assess effectiveness of antiviral drugs in treatment of human monkeypox. Methodology. Published clinical trials and cohort studies on the role of antivirals in the management of human monkeypox that were identified through a comprehensive search of electronic databases up to April 1, 2023. The patients included were children and adults confirmed with monkeypox. The diagnosis was based on PCR or clinical symptoms. The intervention was antivirals administration in human monkeypox patients, versus supportive treatment/placebo. Outcome measured include the duration of monkeypox until recovery, need for hospitalization, and ICU admission. Results. We included four completed studies with 195 participants assessing the safety, pharmacokinetics, and efficacy of antiviral treatments for human monkeypox compared to placebo. Three studies investigated Tecovirimat (st-246), and one investigated Brincidofovir. Both drugs were safe, tolerable, and effective with no serious adverse effects. The other 5 studies were not completed and are ongoing. Conclusion. There are currently no approved antivirals for the treatment of monkeypox; some medications could be authorized for outbreak use and are now under investigation, such as Tecovirimat, Cidofovir, and Brincidofovir.

Key word: monkeypox, tecovirimat, cidofovir, brincidofovir, meta-analysis, systematic review.

Abdelghany AM, Ghaly FF, Allam MF. Antiviral Drugs for Treatment of Human Monkeypox: A Systematic Review/Metaanalysis. Microbes Infect Chemother. 2024;4: e1963

https://revistas.unheval.edu.pe/index.php/mic/article/view/1963