SIGA - Scientists behind key COVID study run monkeypox trial for SIGA therapy

• A team of British scientists, who conducted one of the major trials to find COVID-19 therapies, has launched a new clinical study to evaluate whether the antiviral tecovirimat developed by SIGA Technologies ( NASDAQ: SIGA ) is effective against monkeypox.
• The scientists from Oxford University rose to fame in 2020 after initiating their so-called RECOVERY trial, which initially tested four treatments against COVID-19.
• Tecovirimat, also known as TPOXX, is currently available in the U.S. as a treatment for smallpox on a case-by-case basis under the FDA's Expanded Access program.
• The monkeypox trial named PLATINUM is funded by a ~$4.4M grant from the U.K. government. The randomized trial will enroll at least 500 participants who will receive a 14-day course of 600mg tecovirimat twice daily or a matched placebo.
• Previously, updating on its plans to launch global studies for TPOXX in monkeypox, SIGA ( SIGA ) said that the first trial sites in the U.K. would be activated this week.

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