Ensitrelvir Matches Ritonavir‑Boosted Nirmatrelvir for Rapid SARS‑CoV‑2 Clearance — PLATCOV Phase 2 Results Support an Alternative Oral Mpro Inhibitor

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– In the PLATCOV open‑label phase 2 pharmacometric platform trial, oral ensitrelvir accelerated oropharyngeal SARS‑CoV‑2 clearance compared with no study drug and performed similarly to ritonavir‑boosted nirmatrelvir.

– Median estimated viral clearance half‑lives: 5.9 h (ensitrelvir), 5.2 h (nirmatrelvir), versus 11.6 h (no study drug). Ensitrelvir accelerated clearance 82% (95% CrI 61–104) vs no drug and was 16% slower (95% CrI 5–25) than nirmatrelvir.