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The last known naturally occurring human case of smallpox occurred in 1977, yet concern remains that hidden stores of the causative agent, variola virus, might be used for bioterrorism or biologic warfare and lead to a worldwide public health crisis. Having an antiviral drug to either treat or provide prophylaxis against smallpox would be beneficial. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has enacted an animal efficacy rule that allows drug development in animal models for rare diseases where it is not possible or justifiable to perform human clinical trials. Researchers from a pharmaceutical company now report results of studies supported by the NIH on a novel compound, tecovirimat, that appears active in vitro against all tested orthopoxvi…