FDA Approves Oral Antiviral to Prevent COVID-19 After Exposure

— Ensitrelvir cut household contacts' risk of developing COVID by more than half

June 1, 2026

• 2 min read

The FDA approved the oral antiviral agent ensitrelvir (Xocova) to help prevent COVID-19 in people ages 12 years or older who were exposed to the SARS-CoV-2 virus, drugmaker Shionogi announced.

Ensitrelvir is a SARS-CoV-2 main protease inhibitor also approved in Japan as COVID-19 postexposure prophylaxis (PEP) and as a treatment for mild to moderate COVID. The drug is not approved to treat COVID-19 in the U.S.