An Overview of the Alternate Pathway of Approval of Tecovirimat and Its Pharmacological Aspects in the Management of Monkeypox

Abstract

Monkeypox is a zoonotic disease caused by orthopoxvirus with akin clinical presentation like smallpox. Humans contract monkeypox when they come into contact with infected animals. There are other commonly reported methods of transmission like close contact with infected patient (sexual or skin-to-skin), airborne droplets, and fomites such as towels and bedding. , Multiple medical countermeasures are housed for the management of monkeypox. Currently available vaccines against orthopox viruses like monkeyox include JYNNEOSTM (live, replication-deficient, attenuated vaccinia virus) for the prevention of the disease and ACAM2000® (live, replication competent vaccinia virus) for active immunization for patients at high risk of infection. Antivirals like tecovirimat, brincidofovir, cidofovir and vaccinia immune globulin intravenous (VIGIV) are available for the treatment of monkeypox, despite the fact that supportive care is typically sufficient. But in cases of critical disease in paediatric patients, pregnant and lactating women, patients who are immunocompromised or those with intricate lesions, and lesions proximal to the mouth, eyes or genitalia, antivirals may be considered. This descriptive analysis aims to consolidate all the scientific information in literature related to the pharmacology of antiviral tecovirimat and with special emphasis on its interesting alternate pathway of its regulatory approval.