Research has linked the virus to an increased risk of new or worsening heart, lung, kidney, and neurological conditions in the months following illness.
Older adults remain especially vulnerable to severe disease, particularly in shared living environments such as nursing homes and long-term care facilities. From fall through late spring in the U.S., millions of new cases were estimated, leading to clinic visits, hospital stays, and deaths. Having an at‑home preventive treatment that you can start soon after exposure may help reduce the risk, especially for people in the same household who have someone with COVID.
Why Was It Approved?
FDA approval was supported by a study of 2,387 people exposed to a symptomatic case in their household. Participants were 12 or older, had no symptoms when they enrolled, and had a negative local screening test. Nearly all had some level of immunity from prior infection, vaccination, or both. Treatment began within 72 hours after the sick household member first developed symptoms. In the primary analysis of 2,041 participants who tested negative in lab results for SARS-CoV-2 at the start of the study, Xocova reduced the risk of developing symptomatic COVID by 67% through Day 10 compared with a placebo. The benefit looked consistent across groups and did not depend on vaccination status or past infection. Xocova was generally well-tolerated in the study. The most common side effects were headache, diarrhea, and cough. Other reported side effects included high blood pressure and high blood levels of potassium.
What Do I Need to Know?
Start Xocova as soon as you can, within 72 hours after close contact with someone who has COVID. Take Xocova once daily for five days. Take three tablets together on Day 1 (375 milligrams total), then one tablet daily on days 2 through 5 (125 milligrams each day). You can take it with or without food. Take each dose at about the same time. If you miss a dose, take it later that same day and resume your usual schedule the next day.
