Vaccines, good handwashing, and keeping distance from sick people are all important tools against COVID-19. Though sometimes, despite your best efforts, you may get exposed to the virus. You might share a home with someone who tests positive for COVID, or spend time with friends, family, or a coworker before they knew they were sick.
Now, there is another option to help prevent you from getting sick if you are exposed to COVID. Xocova (ensitrelvir) is a prescription medicine approved in 2026 as the first antiviral medicine to prevent COVID after being exposed to it (also known as post-exposure prophylaxis or PEP).
Continue reading to learn more about Xocova, how it prevents COVID after being exposed, how it was studied, and other important information.
How Do I Take Xocova to Prevent COVID-19?
Xocova works best when started as soon as possible after being exposed to COVID, ideally within 72 hours of being around someone who has COVID. It comes in an easy-to-use blister pack. It is important to take the medicine for all five days. Do not stop taking it without talking to your health care provider.
The blister pack has seven tablets in it, for all five days of medicine. The typical dosing is on day 1, you take three tablets at the same time. For the next four days, you take one tablet a day. Try to take Xocova around the same time each day. Do not remove the tablets from the blister pack until you are ready to take your dose each day. Xocova can be taken with or without food.
This is the standard dosing based on the product label. Always follow the instructions given to you by your health care provider. If you have any questions about how to take Xocova, talk to your pharmacist or health care provider.
How Was Xocova Studied to Prevent COVID-19?
The FDA’s approval of Xocova to prevent COVID was based in part on a large clinical trial in five countries called SCORPIO-PEP. The study compared Xocova with a placebo (no medicine in it) to reduce the risk of getting sick from COVID after being exposed to it. Neither the study investigators nor the participants knew which treatment participants were receiving.
To qualify for the study, participants had to be at least 12 years old, have a negative COVID test at the beginning of the study, and live with someone who is currently infected with COVID.
More than 2,000 people (41% men and 59% women) participated in the study. At the start of the study:
- The average age of participants was 42, with ages ranging from 12 to 91 years.
- 61% identified as White, 32% as Asian, 5% as Black or African American, and 2% as other races; 61% identified as Hispanic or Latino.
- 70% had received a COVID vaccine in the past.
- More than 99% had a positive COVID antibody test at screening, showing they had previously been vaccinated against COVID, infected with COVID before, or both.
- 37% had at least one risk factor linked to severe COVID.
The study compared how many people got COVID within 10 days of starting treatment with Xocova or a placebo. Participants were considered to have COVID if they had symptoms lasting at least 48 hours and a positive PCR test.
What Were the Results of the Study?
Xocova reduced the risk of getting COVID by 67% through day 10 compared with placebo. Only 2.9% of the participants who took Xocova got sick with COVID within 10 days of starting the study, compared to 9% of participants who took a placebo.
The benefit seemed consistent across participants regardless of risk factors. Keep in mind that your results may differ from those seen in this study.
Does Taking Xocova Work for Everyone?
No. Xocova is an option to help lower your risk of getting COVID after being exposed, but there are no guarantees.
If you think you have COVID, there are home tests available that you can use. These tests are available without a prescription. In addition, you can contact your health care provider for advice on managing your symptoms. The symptoms of COVID can vary depending on which strain of the virus you have. But, common symptoms of COVID often include:
- Tiredness
- Fever
- Headache or body aches
- Sore throat
- Runny or stuffy nose
- Cough
- Trouble breathing
Talk to your health care provider about the latest recommendations for isolation or quarantine if you think you have a COVID infection.
