A historical study published in The New England Journal of Medicine It reveals that a single oral dose of Baloxavir Marboxil (Baloxavir) significantly reduces the transmission of influenza within homes, marking an important advance in influenza management. Made by an international team of researchers, including the Faculty of Medicine of the LKS, the University of Hong Kong (HKumed), the Centerstone essay provides the first solid evidence that an antiviral treatment can stop the propagation of influenza to nearby contacts.
Phase 3B trial, double blind, randomized, placed controlled registered 1,457 patients with positive influenza index for influenza and 2,681 domestic contacts in 15 countries from 2019 to 2024. Patients with index, from 5 to 64 years, were assigned to receive Baloxavir or a placbo within 48 hours of start of the symptoms. The main end point was the transmission of influenza confirmed by the laboratory to domestic contacts for day 5.
Key findings:
- Baloxavir treatment reduced the probabilities that non -treated household members hire the virus by 32%.
- The transmission that resulted in symptomatic influenza was lower with Baloxavir (5.8% compared to 7.6%), although the difference was not statistically significant (p = 0.16).
- Baloxavir led to a faster reduction in viral titles, with an average reduction of 2.22 log₁₀ Tcid₅₀/ml per day 3 compared to 1.85 log₁₀ Tcid₅₀/ml for placebo.
- Viruses resistant to medications arose in 7.2% of patients with basis treated index, but were not detected in domestic contacts, which suggests a risk of limited transmission.
- No new security concerns were identified, with adverse events reported in 4.6% of patients treated with Baloxavir compared to 7.0% in the placebo group.
“These results highlight Baloxavir’s potential not only to treat influenza but also to reduce its propagation within the communities,” said Professor Benjamin Cowling, co -author of the study and the teacher of Helen and Francis Zimmern in population health, president of epidemiology and head of the Epidemiology and Biostadicist Division, Public Health School. “This double effect could transform the way we manage seasonal influenza and prepare for future pandemics.”
The study underlines the complementary role of antiviral drugs along with vaccination, particularly in non -vaccinated populations or during pandemics when vaccines may not be available immediately.