Antiviral agents

Mpox: how is the UK preparing for the latest variant?

With the first cases of a new mpox strain emerging in Europe and Asia in August 2024, the World Health Organization has declared the outbreak as a “public health emergency of international concern” for the second time in two years. So what is the ‘clade I’ mpox virus and what risk does it po…

Genital herpes: diagnosis and treatment

Seven out of ten people will have contracted at least one type of herpes simplex virus by the age of 25 years. Pharmacists should be able to advise patients on the risk factors and transmission of the virus and know how the condition is managed.…

Webinar: COVID-19 antivirals — where are we now?

A panel of experts discuss the use of antivirals for the treatment of COVID-19, with consideration for the current landscape and future variants in this webinar recording.…

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Next-generation antivirals: targeting COVID-19

Many of the antivirals trumpeted as turning points in the COVID-19 pandemic have not proved as effective as first expected, but researchers are hoping that a second generation of antivirals will provide better protection — with fewer side effects.…

Two antivirals added to list of drugs that cannot be exported or hoarded

The government added the antiviral drugs oseltamivir and zanamivir, used to treat flu, to the list on 20 December 2022.…

Community pharmacies may be locally commissioned to dispense COVID-19 antivirals

Exclusive: Draft guidance from NHS England says community pharmacies may assist in "establishing and maintaining timely access to COVID-19 therapeutics".…

Antiviral treatment now available on NHS for patients with severe or complicated monkeypox

Tecovirimat was originally developed for use against smallpox and works by reducing the amount of virus in the body.…

SARS-CoV2 antivirals are essential, but they are not silver bullets

The UK government's 'living with COVID-19' policy is relying too much on antiviral treatments, but now is not the time to relax.…

Can antiviral drugs turn the tide on COVID-19?

In this episode, we discuss how the novel COVID-19 oral antivirals work and answer questions about them from readers.…

Government recommends Paxlovid as first-line treatment for eligible COVID-19 patients

New guidance advises that patients who test positive for COVID-19 following their admission to hospital should be offered Paxlovid (nirmatrelvir + ritonavir) first.…