Drug Trial Snapshot: TPOXX

Drug Trial Snapshot: TPOXX

TPOXX is a drug for the treatment of smallpox disease

Smallpox is a serious and highly contagious viral disease that causes fever, rash and deep skin scars and may progress to death. No cases of naturally occurring smallpox disease have happened since the late 1970s because worldwide vaccination led to the eradication of smallpox. The World Health Assembly declared naturally occurring smallpox eradicated worldwide in 1980, following an unprecedented global immunization campaign. However, small amounts of the variola virus – the virus that causes smallpox – still exist for research purposes. Despite the eradication of naturally occurring smallpox disease, there are longstanding concerns that the variola virus could be used as a weapon. Since routine vaccination was discontinued in the 1970s, many people would be at high risk of getting very ill or dying if exposed to this highly contagious virus. Drug Trials Snapshots provide consumers with information about who participated in clinical trials that supported the FDA approval of new drugs. View the Drug Trial Snapshot for TPOXX.  Related links: FDA approves the first drug with an indication for treatment of smallpox (July 13, 2018) Smallpox Preparedness and Response Updates from FDA About Drug Trials Snapshots