MPOX TRACKER

Emergent BioSolutions has published a timely and detailed review on brincidofovir’s potential as a therapeutic for mpox in the Expert Review of Anti-infective Therapy. The article consolidates existing in vitro and in vivo data, including preliminary human case reports, and offers insight into the antiviral’s investigational use in treating mpox, particularly among immunocompromised patients. Importantly, it also explores the rationale for potential combination therapy with tecovirimat, another antiviral being evaluated for mpox.

Brincidofovir—originally developed as a treatment for smallpox—has gained renewed attention in light of the mpox outbreaks declared a global Public Health Emergency of International Concern (PHEIC) by the World Health Organization in August 2024. The review supports the broader call for diversified, safe, and effective countermeasures as mpox continues to spread across Central and West Africa.

The article also contextualizes brincidofovir’s inclusion in the MOSA trial (MpOx Study in Africa), a double-blind, placebo-controlled study launched in January 2025 by the Africa CDC and PANTHER. Funded by Horizon Europe, the trial represents one of the most rigorous efforts to assess antiviral efficacy in the real-world context of endemic transmission.

According to Dr. Simon Lowry, Chief Medical Officer at Emergent, the review and the ongoing trial are essential tools in identifying viable treatment strategies for both adult and pediatric mpox cases. While brincidofovir has shown hepatotoxicity concerns in earlier case series, its inclusion in controlled trials like MOSA reflects a renewed focus on understanding its safety profile in a structured and monitored setting.

As global health authorities struggle with logistical and funding barriers to vaccine distribution, therapeutic research remains a crucial front. Emergent’s contribution via this review may help pave the way for science-led decisions in mpox management and future outbreak preparedness.