Short Note on Tecovirimat
S. Padmaja
Department of Pharmacology, Chettinad Hospital and Research Institute, Chettinad Academy of Research and Education, Kelambakkam-603103, Tamil Nadu, India.
C. Sushil *
Department of Pharmacology, Chettinad Hospital and Research Institute, Chettinad Academy of Research and Education, Kelambakkam-603103, Tamil Nadu, India.
*Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Abstract
Smallpox, an infectious disease, caused by one of the two virus variants, Variola major and Variola minor. Smallpox is a highly contagious and fatal disease. The last case which occurred naturally was in October 1977. The disease was eradicated globally by the World Health Organisation in the year 1980. Since there is a longstanding concern that smallpox can be used as a bioweapon, US FDA has approved the drug, Tecovirimat (TPOXX) for its treatment.
Keywords: Tecovirimat, smallpox