TPOXX Is the Only Treatment Available for Monkeypox—Here's What To Know
As the monkeypox outbreak continues to intensify, it's not just vaccines for the virus that are in short supply. There's just one drug currently available that can be used to treat monkeypox—TPOXX—and obtaining it has also proved challenging. TPOXX (short for tecovirimat), was originally approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to treat smallpox, which is an orthopoxvirus in the same family as monkeypox. The drug can also be prescribed to patients who have monkeypox or are at high risk of getting a severe case of the monkeypox virus. "It's shown some potential activity against monkeypox infections," says Adi Shah, an infectious disease specialist at Mayo Clinic, told Health. TPOXX is not available in pharmacies however. It can only be obtained through the country's Strategic National Stockpile or from state health and territorial departments. And while TPOXX may be effective in treating monkeypox, it isn't for everyone. Experts are still learning about the drug's effectiveness. Here's what you need to know about the antiviral drug TPOXX and its use in treating monkeypox. The Symptoms and Causes of Monkeypox, as Virus Cases Rise Globally












