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Roche’s Xofluza reduces risk of catching flu by 86% in Phase 3 trial

pharmafile | September 2, 2019 | News story | Research and Development, Sales and Marketing Roche, Xofluza, flu, influenza, pharma 

Roche has brought forward new Phase 3 data on Xofluza (baloxavir marboxil), proving the therapy’s efficacy in the preventative treatment of influenza.

The data showed that, following exposure to a household member who had contracted influenza, Xofluza reduced the risk of patients contracting the disease themselves by 86% compared to placebo: only 1.9% of patients taking the drug developed the flu compared to 13.6% of those taking placebo.

The findings also noted that this benefit remained statistically significant regardless of influenza A subtype, as well as in other high-risk groups: in children under 12, 4.2% taking Xofluza developed the flue compared to 15.5% taking placebo, and in those highly vulnerable to flu-related complications 2.2% developed the disease, compared to 15.4% of placebo patients.

“As the influenza virus can rapidly infect those around us, limiting the spread of infection within households potentially avoids a significant impact on the wider community – a critical step in the global fight against flu,” said Dr Sandra Horning, Roche’s Chief Medical Officer and Head of Global Product Development. “We are encouraged by the BLOCKSTONE study, the first to show that Xofluza is an effective preventive treatment following exposure to flu and we look forward to sharing these data with health authorities.”

Matt Fellows

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