Roche's "Xofluza" Phase III study for global flu prevention after exposure successful.

On September 19, Roche (RHHBY.US) announced that the Phase III CENTERSTONE study of the antiviral drug Xofluza (baloxavir marboxil) for post-exposure prevention of influenza virus has yielded positive results. This study is the first global Phase III study to prove that an antiviral drug used to treat respiratory viral diseases has benefits in reducing virus transmission. CENTERSTONE (MV40618) is a global, multicenter, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trial (n=4176) evaluating the efficacy and safety of a single dose of Xofluza taken within 48 hours of symptom onset in individuals aged 5-64 with influenza infection, in reducing further transmission of the flu virus among household contacts. The results showed that the study met its primary endpoint, demonstrating that Xofluza can effectively reduce further transmission of the influenza virus among household contacts.