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The global mpox outbreak in 2022 triggered a search for vaccines and drug treatments alike. Tecovirimat (TPOXX; originally developed against smallpox) appeared to shorten the course and reduce the severity of mpox and was FDA-approved as an investigational new drug. People with HIV (PWH) are disproportionately highly represented among mpox cases (NEJM JW Infect Dis May 18 2023 and Ann Intern Med 2023 May; 176:642). To further assess the beneficial effects of tecovirimat in such individuals, researchers in Atlanta performed a prospective cohort analysis involving 112 mpox-infected PWH who received the antiviral before 7 days of mpox symptoms, after 7 days, or not at all.
The 56 participants who received tecovirimat within 7 days of mpox sympt…