P-2026. Obeldesivir for the Treatment of COVID-19 in People with Risk Factors for Progression to Severe Disease: the BIRCH Study
Authors: Streinu-Cercel Anca , Castagna Antonella , Chang Shan-Chwen , Chen Yao-Shen , Koullias Yiannis , Mozaffarian Afsaneh , Hyland Robert H , Humeniuk Rita , Caro Luzelena , Davies Santosh , Hedskog Charlotte , Chen Shuguang , Etchevers Kim , Behenna-Renton Nicole , Llewellyn Joe , Osinusi Anu , Duff Frank , Hernández Alejandro Barrat , McNally Damien , Simón Campos Jesus Abraham , Leal Fabio E , Fouche Leon , Gonzalez Del Castillo Juan M 
Published: January 2025

Background

COVID-19 remains a serious condition, as the risk of severe outcomes increases with age and comorbid conditions. Early antiviral therapy has been shown to prevent disease progression. Obeldesivir (ODV) is an oral, broad spectrum, nucleoside analog prodrug inhibitor of SARS-CoV-2 RNA-dependent RNA polymerase.

Methods

BIRCH was a Phase 3, double-blind, placebo-controlled study in adults with risk factors for developing severe COVID-19 who were randomized 1:1 to ODV 350 mg or placebo twice daily for 5 days. The primary endpoint was COVID-19-related hospitalization or all-cause death through Day 29. Other endpoints included time to symptom alleviation and change in viral load and infectious titer. Safety assessments included adverse events (AEs) and laboratory abnormalities.

Results

Study enrollment was stopped early, reflecting the evolving COVID-19 landscape with low rates of clinical events. Overall, 465 participants were randomized and received ≥1 dose. 56% were female, 4% were Black, 9% were American Indian or Alaska native, and 12% were Asian. Median age was 56 years; 29% were ≥65 years of age. 76% were randomized within 3 days of symptom onset, 42% had never been vaccinated, and 92% were SARS-CoV-2 seropositive. 90% were SARS-CoV-2 positive by nucleic acid amplification test at baseline for efficacy analyses. COVID-19-related hospitalization or all-cause death through Day 29 was reported in 0% for ODV (0/211 participants) and 0.5% for placebo (1/207 participants; P = 0.3161). Among the 162 participants who completed a symptom questionnaire, ODV showed a 2-day improvement in median time to symptom alleviation by Day 15 (ODV: 7.3 days; placebo: 9.3 days; P = 0.0859). ODV demonstrated greater reductions in viral load from baseline to Day 5 (–0.58 log10 copies/mL; P &lt; 0.0001), and a greater proportion with negative infectious titer at Day 5 (ODV: 68/68 [100%]; placebo: 56/69 [81%]; P = 0.0001). The safety profiles of ODV and placebo were comparable, with similar rates of AEs, serious AEs, and AEs leading to discontinuation of study drug.

Conclusion

ODV treatment resulted in greater decreases in viral load and infectious titer, and a trend in faster time to symptom alleviation. In this population of participants with risk factors for severe COVID-19, ODV was generally safe and well tolerated.

Disclosures

Anca Streinu-Cercel, MD PhD Prof. Infectious Diseases, Gilead Sciences, Inc.: Grant/Research Support|Gilead Sciences, Inc.: Honoraria Antonella Castagna, MD, Bristol-Myers Squibb: Advisor/Consultant|Gilead Sciences, Inc.: Advisor/Consultant|Gilead Sciences, Inc.: Grant/Research Support|Gilead Sciences, Inc.: Honoraria|Janssen: Advisor/Consultant|Janssen: Grant/Research Support|Janssen: Honoraria|Merck Sharp & Dohme: Advisor/Consultant|Merck Sharp & Dohme: Grant/Research Support|Merck Sharp & Dohme: Honoraria|ViiV Healthcare: Advisor/Consultant|ViiV Healthcare: Grant/Research Support|ViiV Healthcare: Honoraria Yiannis Koullias, MD, Gilead Sciences, Inc.: Employee|Gilead Sciences, Inc.: Stocks/Bonds (Public Company) Afsaneh Mozaffarian, MS, Gilead Sciences, Inc.: Employee|Gilead Sciences, Inc.: Stocks/Bonds (Public Company) Robert H. Hyland, DPhil, Gilead Sciences, Inc.: Employee|Gilead Sciences, Inc.: Stocks/Bonds (Public Company) Rita Humeniuk, PhD, Gilead Sciences, Inc.: Former Employee|Gilead Sciences, Inc.: Stocks/Bonds (Public Company) Luzelena Caro, PhD, Gilead Sciences, Inc.: Employee|Gilead Sciences, Inc.: Stocks/Bonds (Public Company) Santosh Davies, MD, Gilead Sciences, Inc.: Employee|Gilead Sciences, Inc.: Stocks/Bonds (Public Company) Charlotte Hedskog, PhD, Gilead Sciences, Inc.: Employee|Gilead Sciences, Inc.: Stocks/Bonds (Public Company) Shuguang Chen, PhD, Gilead Sciences, Inc.: Employee|Gilead Sciences, Inc.: Stocks/Bonds (Public Company) Kim Etchevers, MS, Gilead Sciences, Inc.: Employee|Gilead Sciences, Inc.: Stocks/Bonds (Public Company) Nicole Behenna-Renton, BSc Hons, Gilead Science Europe Ltd: Employee|Gilead Science Europe Ltd: Stocks/Bonds (Public Company) Joe Llewellyn, PharmD, Gilead Sciences, Inc.: Employee|Gilead Sciences, Inc.: Stocks/Bonds (Public Company) Anu Osinusi, MD, Gilead Sciences, Inc.: Employee|Gilead Sciences, Inc.: Stocks/Bonds (Public Company) Frank Duff, MD, Gilead Sciences, Inc.: Employee|Gilead Sciences, Inc.: Stocks/Bonds (Public Company) Jesus Abraham Simón Campos, MD, AstraZeneca: Advisor/Consultant|AstraZeneca: Honoraria|Lilly: Advisor/Consultant|Lilly: Honoraria|Pfizer: Advisor/Consultant|Pfizer: Honoraria|Roche: Advisor/Consultant|Roche: Honoraria