For most folks these days, COVID is a mild disease – as with most viral syndromes. However, it still has a mean streak – just like influenza and RSV – and those remain who would benefit from protective antiviral treatment.
Enter ensitrelvir: it’s like nirmatrelvir. In fact, it’s so much like nimatrelvir it targets the same protease. And, when put up against nirmatrelvir, it clears viral particles from the nasopharynx in roughly the same timeframe:
And has basically the same minimal effect on symptom relief in the young, healthy group enrolled:
Unfortunately, it’s also so much like nirmatrelvir it has the same CYP3A4 inhibition and medication interactions.
But, I suppose, more options are always more options …