Evidence map›Paper›PMID 38890511›Full record

Trial reportInfluenza and other respiratory viruses2024

Efficacy and Safety of Ensitrelvir for Asymptomatic or Mild COVID-19: An Exploratory Analysis of a Multicenter, Randomized, Phase 2b/3 Clinical Trial.

Norio Ohmagari, Hiroshi Yotsuyanagi, Yohei Doi, Masaya Yamato, Takumi Imamura, Hiroki Sakaguchi, Hideki Yamanaka, Ryosuke Imaoka, Akimasa Fukushi, Genki Ichihashi and 4 more

Abstract readClinical Trial, Phase IIRandomized Controlled TrialMulticenter Study
In one paragraph

Trial report in Influenza and other respiratory viruses, 2024. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 6 papers, 2 of them syntheses that pooled it.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
6citing papers in PubMed, 2 pooled it
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

6 citing papers in PubMed, 2 syntheses or guidelines pooled it.

  1. Pooled it
  2. Pooled it
  3. Trial
  4. Review
  5. Antivirals in COVID-19: A Focus on Pediatric Cardiac Patients.The Canadian journal of infectious diseases & medical microbiology = Journal canadien des maladies infectieuses et de la microbiologie medicale · 2025
    Review
  6. Review
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

14 authors.

Norio OhmagariDisease Control and Prevention Center, National Center for Global Health and Medicine, Tokyo, Japan.
Hiroshi YotsuyanagiThe Institute of Medical Science, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan.
Yohei DoiDepartments of Microbiology and Infectious Diseases, Fujita Health University School of Medicine, Toyoake, Japan.
Masaya YamatoDepartment of General Medicine and Infectious Diseases, Rinku General Medical Center, Izumisano, Japan.
Takumi ImamuraDrug Development and Regulatory Science Division, Shionogi & Co., Ltd, Osaka, Japan.
Hiroki SakaguchiDrug Development and Regulatory Science Division, Shionogi & Co., Ltd, Osaka, Japan.
Hideki YamanakaDrug Development and Regulatory Science Division, Shionogi & Co., Ltd, Osaka, Japan.
Ryosuke ImaokaDrug Development and Regulatory Science Division, Shionogi & Co., Ltd, Osaka, Japan.
Akimasa FukushiDrug Development and Regulatory Science Division, Shionogi & Co., Ltd, Osaka, Japan.
Genki IchihashiDrug Development and Regulatory Science Division, Shionogi & Co., Ltd, Osaka, Japan.
Takao SanakiResearch Division, Shionogi & Co., Ltd, Osaka, Japan.
Yuko TsugeDrug Development and Regulatory Science Division, Shionogi & Co., Ltd, Osaka, Japan.
Takeki UeharaDrug Development and Regulatory Science Division, Shionogi & Co., Ltd, Osaka, Japan.ORCID 0000-0002-5853-9426
Hiroshi MukaeDepartment of Respiratory Medicine, Nagasaki University Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, Nagasaki, Japan.

Funding

EPS CorporationMinistry of Health, Labour and WelfareShionogi & Co., Ltd.
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundThis phase 2b/3, randomized, placebo-controlled trial explored the efficacy and evaluated the safety of ensitrelvir. This trial involved individuals with asymptomatic infection with severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) and patients with mild symptoms of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19).

methodsThe trial was conducted at 57 medical institutions in Japan, South Korea, and Vietnam (study period: January 6-August 14, 2022). Eligible participants were randomized (1:1:1) to the ensitrelvir 125-mg, ensitrelvir 250-mg, or placebo group, received the allocated intervention orally, and were followed up until Day 28. Participants self-rated the severity of 14 typical COVID-19 symptoms and recorded the data in an electronic diary.

resultsIn total, 572 participants (194, 189, and 189 in the ensitrelvir 125-mg, ensitrelvir 250-mg, and placebo groups, respectively) were included in the intention-to-treat population. Ensitrelvir 125-mg group observed a 77% reduction in the risk of developing any of the 14 COVID-19 symptoms or fever and a 29% reduction in the risk of worsening of such symptoms or fever versus placebo (statistically nonsignificant). The viral RNA, viral titer, and time to infectious viral clearance observed a statistically significant decrease versus placebo. Most treatment-related adverse events (TEAEs) were mild to moderate in severity, and the most common TEAE observed across groups was a decrease in high-density lipoprotein.

conclusionsOur exploratory results suggest a potential reduction in the risk of development or worsening of COVID-19 symptoms with ensitrelvir. Ensitrelvir showed antiviral efficacy and was well tolerated.

trial registrationJapan Registry of Clinical Trials identifier: jRCT2031210350.

Indexed as

COVID-19COVID-19 Drug TreatmentSARS-CoV-2AdultAgedAntiviral AgentsAsymptomatic InfectionsFemaleHumansIndazolesJapanMaleMiddle AgedRepublic of KoreaTreatment OutcomeTriazinesAntiviral AgentsensitrelvirIndazolesTriazinesTriazolesasymptomatic infectionscontrolled clinical trialCOVID‐19 drug treatmentensitrelvirpostexposure prophylaxis

Identifiers

PMID38890511
PMCPMC11187911

What OpenQuestion holds

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Registered trials

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.