A team of international researchers has discovered a drug candidate which could be used as a treatment for monkeypox (now known as mpox). Researchers have identified nitroxoline as a possible drug that could be used to combat the virus, which is spreading around the world.
In experimental models, antiviral agents have been shown to inhibit the replication of mpox viruses. Their efficacy has not yet been confirmed in humans. Some of these antiviral drugs may cause serious side effects and there are not enough stocks to treat everyone with mpox. According to reports, tecovirimat – touted as the best mpox drug candidate up to this point – has developed resistance to certain strains.
In the new study, the scientist team from Goethe University and the University of Kent found nitroxoline effective against a tecovirimat-resistant mpox strain, and other bacterial and viral pathogens that are often co-transmitted with mpox viruses.
The Journal of Medical Virology published a study that stated Nitroxoline was a well tolerated antibiotic. It can be used directly to treat mpox.
An ongoing mpox outbreak
This is the first mpox epidemic of this magnitude outside of Africa, and the first outbreak to result from transmission. Since early May 2022 cases of mpox were reported in non-endemic and endemic nations. Many mpox cases with a travel history have reported traveling to Europe and North America rather than West and Central Africa, where the virus is prevalent.
From 1 January 2022 to 13 March 2023, the WHO recorded a total 86 496 confirmed cases of mpox, including 111 fatalities, in 110 countries. By 12 thMarch 2023, global new cases per week had decreased by 14%, but the Americas continued to report most cases.
All reported deaths in the current mpox epidemic (111 deaths reported by WHO) occurred among adult males. Most of these men were immunocompromised due to HIV infection or other immunocompromising conditions.
