New clinical trial data show that a drug developed in Japan reduces the duration of loss of smell and taste. An important advantage is that it can be prescribed to people with mild symptoms.
At the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, about 40-50% of those infected had a loss of sense of smell and taste. The emergence of new strains of coronavirus has gradually reduced this figure, but the problem is still relevant for many patients. The antiviral drug entrelvir, which was approved for emergency use in Japan last year, is now being considered as a solution.
Ensitrelvir testing in clinical trials is still ongoing. New data shows that it helps to cope with the loss of smell and taste faster, Nature writes. The drug was given in two dosages: 250 mg showed the greatest effectiveness among the participants.
On the third day of treatment, a sharp improvement in symptoms was noted, and by the end of the week, there were 39% more people in the placebo group with persistent symptoms.
It is noteworthy that after three weeks, all groups had the same symptoms. That is, the use of entrelvir can accelerate the effectiveness of treatment, the authors clarify.
It is important to note that entrelvir can be prescribed to people with mild to moderate symptoms. For example, the antiviral drug molnupiravir, which has also been shown to be effective in combating smell loss, should only be prescribed to people with high risks of complications.
A universal vaccine developed by Moderna to protect against both influenza and COVID-19 is currently in the final phase of clinical trials.
