The National Institutes of Health (NIH) is conducting a multi-site clinical trial to evaluate Shionogi & Co.’s Xocova COVID-19 antiviral drug to determine its effectiveness in improving care for afflicted individuals.
Xocova, also known as ensitrelvir fumaric acid or S-217622, was discovered by Osaka-based Shionogi and Hokkaido University in Sapporo, Japan. The trial will be conducted among 1,500 people at various sites worldwide, according to a Feb. 15 press release. The National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID), which is a part of the NIH, is funding the trial. S-217622 works by suppressing the replication of the COVID-19 virus by inhibiting the function of a key protein called 3CL protease.
