Sporadic Occurrence of Ensitrelvir-Resistant SARS-CoV-2, Japan

• Published in: Emerging Infectious Diseases Vol. 30; no. 6; pp. 1289 - 1291
• Main Authors: Doi, Akihiro, Ota, Masayuki, Saito, Masumichi, Matsuyama, Shutoku
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) 01.06.2024; U.S. National Center for Infectious Diseases; Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
• Subjects: Adult; Aged; Amino acids; Antiviral agents; Antiviral Agents - pharmacology; Antiviral Agents - therapeutic use; coronavirus disease; COVID-19; COVID-19 - epidemiology; COVID-19 - virology; COVID-19 Drug Treatment; Disease transmission; Drug resistance; Drug Resistance, Viral - genetics; ensitrelvir; Female; Gene mutations; Genomes; Health aspects; Humans; Indazoles; Infectious and parasitic diseases; Infectious diseases; Internal medicine; Japan - epidemiology; Male; Medical research; Medicine; Medicine, Experimental; Middle Aged; Mutation; Patient outcomes; Phylogenetics; Prescription drugs; R; RC109-216; Research Letter; SARS; SARS-CoV-2; SARS-CoV-2 - genetics; Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2; Triazines; Triazoles; Viral drug resistance; Viral Nonstructural Proteins - genetics; Viruses; Japan; viruses; ensitrelvir; Japan; SARS; coronavirus; zoonoses; respiratory infections; COVID-19; SARS-CoV-2; antimicrobial resistance; severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2; GISAID; coronavirus disease
• ISSN: 1080-6040; 1080-6059; 1080-6059
• DOI: 10.3201/eid3006.240023

Using the GISAID EpiCoV database, we identified 256 COVID-19 patients in Japan during March 31-December 31, 2023, who had mutations in the SARS-CoV-2 nonstructural protein 5 conferring ensitrelvir resistance. Ongoing genomic surveillance is required to monitor emergence of SARS-CoV-2 mutations that are resistant to anticoronaviral drugs.