Traws Pharma Completes Analysis of Ratutrelvir Clinical Study in PAXLOVID®-Eligible and Ineligible COVID-19 Patients and Provides Updates for Additional Indication for Tivoxavir Marboxil as a Prophylactic Treatment for Seasonal Influenza
MWN-AI** Summary
Traws Pharma, Inc. has announced the completion of its clinical analysis for ratutrelvir, a novel oral protease inhibitor currently in Phase 2 trials for treating COVID-19. In a 90-patient study that compared ratutrelvir to PAXLOVID®, the results revealed ratutrelvir's differentiated profile. Notably, patients treated with ratutrelvir experienced fewer adverse events and no instances of viral rebound, achieving similar times to symptom resolution. This finding is particularly significant for patients ineligible for PAXLOVID®, who often lack effective treatment options and are at a higher risk for severe COVID-19. Dr. Robert R. Redfield, the Chief Medical Officer, emphasized ratutrelvir's potential to close this care gap and its favorable tolerability.
In addition to the COVID-19 treatment, Traws Pharma is advancing tivoxavir marboxil, a CAP-dependent endonuclease inhibitor aimed at preventing seasonal influenza. Preclinical studies demonstrated that a new tablet formulation of tivoxavir marboxil produces significantly higher exposure levels and is predicted to provide 28-day protection against various influenza strains. While the FDA has placed the U.S. IND application for tivoxavir marboxil on clinical hold due to concerns over mutagenicity, Traws Pharma is actively addressing this issue while planning further studies outside the United States.
Overall, Traws Pharma’s promising advancements in its antiviral portfolio could present crucial treatment and prevention options for significant respiratory viral diseases, including COVID-19 and seasonal influenza. As they navigate these clinical developments, the company is positioned to potentially capitalize on a multi-billion dollar market opportunity in the antiviral sector.
MWN-AI** Analysis
Traws Pharma, Inc. (NASDAQ: TRAW) recently announced promising developments in its clinical programs for ratutrelvir and tivoxavir marboxil, offering significant potential for the market. The results from the 90-patient Phase 2 study highlight ratutrelvir's favorable safety profile and efficacy when compared to PAXLOVID®, particularly notable among PAXLOVID®-ineligible patients who often face severe COVID-19 risks. By exhibiting fewer adverse events and quicker symptom resolution, ratutrelvir could establish itself as a preferred treatment option in this underrepresented patient segment. Notably, its potential to mitigate Long COVID risk may further attract healthcare providers' and patients' attention, aligning with growing demands for effective COVID-19 treatment solutions.
On the prophylactic front, tivoxavir marboxil's pre-clinical results indicate a significant increase in exposure with the tablet formulation, bolstering its case as a once-monthly influenza preventive. While the recent FDA clinical hold due to mutagenicity concerns is a hurdle, proactive engagement with regulators and the intent to conduct further studies could mitigate this risk and enhance its commercial prospects.
From a market perspective, investors should closely monitor Traws Pharma's strategic developments. The drug portfolio covers critical therapeutic areas with considerable market opportunities, underscored by the ongoing need for effective antiviral therapies. Given the multi-billion dollar potential in both COVID-19 and influenza markets, Traws Pharma seems positioned for growth, contingent upon successful navigation through regulatory landscapes and clinical advancements.
Investors could consider TRAW as a speculative yet high-reward stock in the biopharmaceutical sector, particularly with upcoming clinical data releases and potential regulatory guidance expected in the near future. Maintaining a watchful eye on FDA communications and trial progress will be essential in assessing risk and potential return on investment.
**MWN-AI Summary and Analysis is based on asking OpenAI to summarize and analyze this news release.
Completed clinical results with ratutrelvir confirm a differentiated profile versus PAXLOVID® with fewer adverse events and no viral rebounds with equivalent time to sustained symptom resolution; results were recapitulated in PAXLOVID®-ineligible patients, representing a significant population with no effective treatment options
Pre-clinical analysis of tivoxavir marboxil tablets demonstrated significantly increased exposure compared to a prototype formulation with predicted 28-day protection in humans from influenza infections against a wide range of seasonal and pandemic variants
PK study of compressed tivoxavir marboxil tablets submitted under open IND in Australia and preparations are underway for a Human Influenza Prophylaxis Challenge Study in the UK
NEWTOWN, Pa., Feb. 19, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Traws Pharma, Inc. (NASDAQ: TRAW, “Traws Pharma”, “Traws” or “the Company”), a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company developing novel therapies to target critical threats to human health from respiratory viral diseases, today announced the completion of the clinical analysis of its 90-patient, open-label Phase 2 study of ratutrelvir, an investigational oral, ritonavir-free Mpro/3CL protease inhibitor, versus PAXLOVID® in patients with mild-to-moderate COVID-19, together with a single arm in PAXLOVID®-ineligible subjects. Patients ineligible to receive PAXLOVID® are frequently at elevated risk for severe disease and require suitable, safe and effective treatment options. Ratutrelvir has the potential to address this gap in care and may be a valuable therapeutic option.
Ratutrelvir Update
Designed as an active-controlled comparator trial versus PAXLOVID® (nirmatrelvir/ritonavir), the study evaluated patient-reported symptom outcomes, safety, and real-world usability. A separate treatment arm was comprised of patients ineligible for ritonavir-boosted regimens due to contraindications or clinically significant drug–drug interactions.
Patients in the ratutrelvir arm received ratutrelvir 600 mg orally once daily for 10 days, while patients in the comparator arm received PAXLOVID®, administered as nirmatrelvir 300 mg twice daily plus 100mg ritonavir twice daily for 5 days, consistent with approved prescribing information. Patients receiving ratutrelvir who were ineligible for PAXLOVID® reported fewer treatment-related adverse events (3 events in 30 subjects, 10%) compared to subjects receiving PAXLOVID®, (7 events in 30 subjects, 23.3%), and symptoms resolved more quickly in subjects taking ratutrelvir who were ineligible for PAXLOVID®, compared to PAXLOVID® treatment (HR, 1.31; 95% CI, 0.78-2.20, p=0.018).
“From a clinical perspective, the completed data analysis confirms that ratutrelvir may provide a meaningful benefit across a broader range of patients, including those who are unable to receive ritonavir-boosted therapy,” commented Robert R. Redfield, MD, Chief Medical Officer of Traws Pharma. “The favorable tolerability profile, together with a shortened time to symptom resolution and the absence of viral rebound events in ratutrelvir-treated patients, encourages and supports the continued clinical evaluation of ratutrelvir in both acute COVID-19 and in studies designed to better understand its potential impact on longer-term outcomes.”
“The combination of early and sustained symptom improvement, extended dosing duration, absence of viral rebound observed to date, and favorable tolerability supports the strategic hypothesis that ratutrelvir may have utility in reducing post-acute sequelae of SARS-CoV-2 infection (Long COVID),” commented Dr. Redfield. “By enabling earlier and potentially more complete viral clearance, without the limitations associated with ritonavir boosting, ratutrelvir may offer a differentiated approach to both acute COVID-19 treatment and prevention of longer-term complications”.
Tivoxavir Marboxil Update
The Company additionally announced progress in advancing an additional indication for tivoxavir marboxil (TXM), a potential best in class CAP-dependent endonuclease inhibitor, as a once-monthly, single oral tablet for prevention of seasonal influenza.
In prior Phase 1 studies in healthy volunteers, an unformulated powder-in-capsule formulation provided blood levels exceeding 3X EC50 against a basket of common seasonal influenza variants up to 22 days after drug administration. A tablet formulation has been evaluated pre-clinically and demonstrated a 30% increase in exposure compared to the unformulated prototype. “Modelling of these data suggests that the tablet formulation should provide 28-day coverage, enabling a once-a-month prophylactic treatment,” commented C. David Pauza, PhD, Chief Science Officer of Traws Pharma. “We intend to advance these findings into a healthy volunteer study to be conducted under an open IND in Australia and, if the extended exposure is confirmed, we intend to progress TXM into a Seasonal Human Influenza Virus Prophylaxis Challenge Study,” Dr. Pauza continued.
Separately, the FDA informed the Company that its US IND for tivoxavir marboxil was being placed on clinical hold due to concerns with the mutagenicity data package. The FDA intends to communicate its concerns formally, together with suggested mitigation steps, by March 16, 2026. Dr. Redfield commented, “This IND application was originally filed to enable a complete review by the Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority (BARDA) of the Company’s application for inclusion in the strategic stockpile for the treatment of avian influenza. While the clinical hold does not directly impact ongoing and planned studies outside of the United States, Traws Pharma appreciates the FDA concern and is working to mitigate this issue in our clinical development plan.”
“Collectively, the advancement of our antiviral portfolio provides a number of significant value inflection points and could provide treatment and prevention options for clinically important viral diseases,” commented Iain Dukes, MA, DPhil, Chief Executive Officer of Traws Pharma.
About Ratutrelvir
Ratutrelvir is an investigational oral, small molecule Mpro (3CL protease) inhibitor designed to be a broadly acting treatment for SARS-CoV-2/COVID-19 that is used without ritonavir. It has demonstrated in vitro activity against a range of virus strains. Preclinical and Phase 1 studies show that ratutrelvir does not require co-administration with a metabolic inhibitor, such as ritonavir, which could avoid ritonavir-associated drug-drug interactions1, and potentially enable wider patient use. Phase 1 data also show that ratutrelvir’s pharmacokinetic (PK) profile demonstrated maintenance of target blood plasma levels approximately 13 times above the EC50 using the target Phase 2 dosing regimen of 600 mg/day for ten days, which may also reduce the likelihood of clinical rebound and, consequently, reduce the risk for Long COVID2. Industry data indicate that COVID treatment represents a potential multi-billion dollar market opportunity3.
About Tivoxavir Marboxil
Tivoxavir marboxil (TXM) is an investigational oral, small molecule CAP-dependent endonuclease inhibitor designed to be administered as a single-dose for the treatment of bird flu and seasonal influenza. It has shown potent in vitro activity against a range of influenza strains in preclinical studies, including a human isolate of the highly pathogenic avian flu H5N1 (bird flu). Consistent, positive preclinical data from three animal species indicate that a single dose of TXM demonstrated a therapeutic effect against H5N1 bird flu. Seasonal influenza represents an estimated multi-billion dollar antiviral market opportunity, largely driven by global health organizations, practice guidelines and government tenders and inclusion in drug stock piling initiatives4,5, with upside potential from potential pandemic flu outbreaks including H5N1 bird flu. We believe that these data support further development of TXM as a treatment for bird flu.
Source information
- https://ascpt.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/pdf/10.1002/cpt.2646
- Carly Herbert et al. (2025) Clinical Infectious Diseases. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/39692474/
- Pfizer Inc. annual report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2025, filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission on February 3, 2026
- Per link
- TRAW data on file
Third-party products mentioned herein are the trademarks of their respective owners.
About Traws Pharma, Inc.
Traws Pharma is a clinical stage biopharmaceutical company dedicated to developing novel therapies to target critical threats to human health in respiratory viral diseases. Traws integrates antiviral drug development, medical intelligence and regulatory strategy to meet real world challenges in the treatment of viral diseases. We are advancing novel investigational oral small molecule antiviral agents that have potent activity against difficult to treat or resistant virus strains that threaten human health: COVID-19/Long COVID and bird flu and seasonal influenza. Ratutrelvir is in development as a ritonavir-independent COVID treatment, targeting the Main protease (Mpro or 3CL protease). Tivoxavir marboxil is in development as a single dose treatment for bird flu and seasonal influenza, targeting the influenza cap-dependent endonuclease (CEN).
Traws is actively seeking development and commercialization partners for its legacy clinical oncology programs, rigosertib and narazaciclib. More details can be found on Traws’ website at https://www.ir.trawspharma.com/partnering.
For more information, please visit www.trawspharma.com and follow us on LinkedIn.
Forward-Looking Statements
Some of the statements in this release are forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, and involve risks and uncertainties including statements regarding the Company, its business and product candidates, including the potential opportunity, market size, benefits, effectiveness, safety, and the clinical and regulatory plans for ratutrelvir and tivoxavir marboxil, as well as plans for its legacy programs. The Company has attempted to identify forward-looking statements by terminology including “believes”, “estimates”, “anticipates”, “expects”, “plans”, “intends”, “may”, “could”, “might”, “will”, “should”, “preliminary”, “encouraging”, “approximately” or other words that convey uncertainty of future events or outcomes. Although Traws believes that the expectations reflected in such forward-looking statements are reasonable as of the date made, expectations may prove to have been materially different from the results expressed or implied by such forward looking statements. These statements are only predictions and involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties, and other factors, including the outcome of Traws’ IND filing with the FDA, including the current FDA clinical hold for tivoxavir marboxil; the success and timing of Traws’ clinical trials; the potential efficacy of ratutrelvir for the treatment of COVID-19, including the potential to reduce the risk of COVID rebound and Long COVID; the potential for ratutrelvir to gain market acceptance, if and when regulatory approval is obtained, or to become the new standard of care; Traws’ interactions with the FDA, BARDA and similar foreign regulators; collaborations; market conditions; regulatory requirements and pathways for approval; the ongoing need for improved therapy to reduce the frequency of clinical rebound and the concomitant risk for Long COVID; the extent of the spread and threat of the bird flu; the Company’s cash projections; Traws’ ability to raise additional capital when needed; and those discussed under the heading “Risk Factors” in Traws’ filings with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). Any forward-looking statements contained in this release speak only as of its date. Traws undertakes no obligation to update any forward-looking statements contained in this release to reflect events or circumstances occurring after its date or to reflect the occurrence of unanticipated events, except to the extent required by law.
Traws Pharma Contact:
Charles Parker
Traws Pharma, Inc.
cparker@trawspharma.com
www.trawspharma.com
Investor Contact:
John Fraunces
LifeSci Advisors, LLC
917-355-2395
jfraunces@lifesciadvisors.com
FAQ**
How do the completed clinical results for ratutrelvir from Traws Pharma Inc. (NASDAQ: TRAW) compare to PAXLOVID® in terms of symptom resolution time and safety for patients with mild-to-moderate COVID-19?
What evidence supports the claim that ratutrelvir from Traws Pharma Inc. (NASDAQ: TRAW) results in fewer treatment-related adverse events compared to PAXLOVID® among PAXLOVID®-ineligible patients?
Can Traws Pharma Inc. (NASDAQ: TRAW) provide updates on the implications of the clinical hold for tivoxavir marboxil and how it affects ongoing studies for seasonal influenza?
In what ways does ratutrelvir's mechanism provide an advantage over PAXLOVID® for patients unable to receive ritonavir-boosted therapy, particularly concerning the risk of Long COVID, according to Traws Pharma Inc. (NASDAQ: TRAW)?
**MWN-AI FAQ is based on asking OpenAI questions about Traws Pharma Inc. (NASDAQ: TRAW).
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