First drug to treat smallpox gets FDA approval, in case of bioterrorism
Though smallpox was declared eradicated in 1980, there have been concerns the contagious and sometimes fatal disease could be used as a bioweapon.
So the U.S. Food and Drug Administration on Friday approved the first drug that could treat it.
“To address the risk of bioterrorism, Congress has taken steps to enable the development and approval of countermeasures to thwart pathogens that could be employed as weapons. Today’s approval provides an important milestone in these efforts,” FDA Commissioner Scott Gottlieb said in a statement.
The drug, TPOXX (tecovirimat) was tested on animals infected with viruses closely related to the virus that causes smallpox, and the safety was evaluated in 359 healthy human volunteers without a smallpox infection. Side effects reported included headache, nausea and abdominal pain.
Read more: https://chicago.suntimes.com/health/first-drug-treat-smallpox-gets-fda-approval-case-bioterrorism-drug/