Skip directly to site content Skip directly to page options Skip directly to A-Z link Skip directly to A-Z link Skip directly to A-Z link

Volume 32, Number 10—October 2026

Dispatch

Baloxavir-Based Combination Therapy for Protection against Influenza A(H5N1) Clade 2.3.4.4b Virus Infection in Mice

Seong Cheol Min, Ju Ryeong Lee, Beom Kyu Kim, Ji-Hyun Park, Dong Gyu Lee, Gi Chan Lee, Se Hee An, Santosh Chokkakula, Aman Jain, Young Ki Choi, Yun Hee Baek, and Min-Suk SongComments to Author 
Author affiliation: Chungbuk National University College of Medicine, Chungbuk, South Korea (S.C. Min, J.R. Lee, B.K. Kim, J.-H. Park, D.G. Lee, G.C. Lee, S.H. An, S. Chokkakula, A. Jain, Y.H. Baek, M.-S. Song); Korea Virus Research Institute Yuseong-gu, Daejeon, South Korea (Y.K. Choi)

Main Article

Figure 1

Therapeutic efficacy of baloxavir-based combinations and monotherapies for treating influenza A(H5N1) clade 2.3.4.4b virus infection in mice. Drug names and doses are provided in the keys (e.g., BXA+MPV 20+25 mg/kg indicates BXA/MPV at a dose of 20/25 mg/kg). A–C) Body weight change (mean +SD; n = 7/group) through 18 days postinfection: vehicle, MPV 25 mg/kg, OSP 25 mg/kg, and OSP/MPV 25/25 mg/kg (A); vehicle, OSP 25 mg/kg, BXA 20 mg/kg, and BXA/OSP 20/25 mg/kg (B); vehicle, MPV 25 mg/kg, BXA 20 mg/kg, and BXA/MPV 20/25 mg/kg (C). Symbols represent group means; error bars indicate SDs. Red dotted horizontal line indicates the humane endpoint threshold. D–F) Kaplan–Meier survival (n = 7/group) corresponding to panels A–C; MST values shown in each panel. G–I) Viral titers in lung, brain, and heart at 4 days postinfection (n = 3/group). J–L) Viral titers at 6 dpi (n = 3/group). Bars show group means with individual animals overlaid; dashed line denotes assay limit of detection (1.801 log10 TCID50/mL). BXA, baloxavir acid; MPV, molnupiravir; MST, median survival time; OSP, oseltamivir phosphate; SD, standard deviation; TCID50, 50% tissue culture infectious dose.

Figure 1. Therapeutic efficacy of baloxavir-based combinations and monotherapies for treating influenza A(H5N1) clade 2.3.4.4b virus infection in mice. Drug names and doses are provided in the keys (e.g., BXA+MPV 20+25 mg/kg indicates BXA/MPV at a dose of 20/25 mg/kg). A–C) Body weight change (mean +SD; n = 7/group) through 18 days postinfection: vehicle, MPV 25 mg/kg, OSP 25 mg/kg, and OSP/MPV 25/25 mg/kg (A); vehicle, OSP 25 mg/kg, BXA 20 mg/kg, and BXA/OSP 20/25 mg/kg (B); vehicle, MPV 25 mg/kg, BXA 20 mg/kg, and BXA/MPV 20/25 mg/kg (C). Symbols represent group means; error bars indicate SDs. Red dotted horizontal line indicates the humane endpoint threshold. D–F) Kaplan–Meier survival (n = 7/group) corresponding to panels A–C; MST values shown in each panel. G–I) Viral titers in lung, brain, and heart at 4 days postinfection (n = 3/group). J–L) Viral titers at 6 dpi (n = 3/group). Bars show group means with individual animals overlaid; dashed line denotes assay limit of detection (1.801 log10 TCID50/mL). BXA, baloxavir acid; MPV, molnupiravir; MST, median survival time; OSP, oseltamivir phosphate; SD, standard deviation; TCID50, 50% tissue culture infectious dose.

Main Article

Page created: September 05, 2026
Page updated: September 28, 2026
Page reviewed: September 28, 2026
The conclusions, findings, and opinions expressed by authors contributing to this journal do not necessarily reflect the official position of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, the Public Health Service, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, or the authors' affiliated institutions. Use of trade names is for identification only and does not imply endorsement by any of the groups named above.
file_external