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Evaluation of #therapeutic effect of #baloxavir marboxil against high pathogenicity avian #influenza virus infection in #duck model

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By G.M.

 


Abstract

Since 2020, high pathogenicity avian influenza virus (HPAIV) infections in wild birds have been frequently reported. Because HPAIV infection has occasionally caused outbreaks in captive rare birds, application of antiviral drugs for treatment purposes against them has been considered from the perspective of conservation medicine. In this study, the therapeutic efficacy of baloxavir marboxil (BXM) was evaluated using a duck model to help establish the post-infection treatment for rare birds. Sixteen four-week-old ducks were divided into four groups and intranasally inoculated with the HPAIV strain A/crow/Hokkaido/0103B065/2022 (H5N1). BXM was orally administered once daily at doses of 12.5, 2.5, 0.5, and 0 mg/kg to each of the four groups from 2 to 6 days post-infection. Blood samples were collected at 2, 8, and 24 hours after the initial BXM administration to measure the plasma concentrations of its active form, baloxavir acid (BXA). All ducks were monitored until 14 days post-infection, and their oral and cloacal swabs were collected for virus recovery. All eight ducks administered with 12.5 or 2.5 mg/kg of BXM survived, demonstrating a significant reduction in virus recovery compared to the 0 mg/kg group. Pharmacokinetic/pharmacodynamic (PK/PD) analysis of BXA suggested that parameters such as Cmax and AUC0–24hr were correlated with the suppression of virus shedding. These findings demonstrated that BXM administration within 48 hours post-HPAIV infection in ducks effectively reduced mortality and virus shedding. The comparison of PK parameters may help estimate efficient BXM dosing strategies in rare birds.


Competing Interest Statement

This study was supported by a collaborative research project between Hokkaido University and Shionogi & Co., Ltd. M.S., R.D.O, H.O., and T.S. are employees of Shionogi & Co., Ltd. M.M. is a former employee of Shionogi & Co., Ltd. These affiliations did not influence the study design, data collection, analysis, or interpretation. The remaining authors declare no competing interests.


Funder Information Declared

Environmental Restoration and Conservation Agency, JPMEERF20254004

Japan Science and Technology Agency, JPMJSP2119

Japan Agency for Medical Research and Development, https://ror.org/004rtk039, JP223fa627005, JP24wm000125008

Source: BioRxIV, https://www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1101/2025.10.24.684283v1

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