Human mpox: Biology, epidemiology, therapeutic options, and development of small molecule inhibitors

Although monkeypox (mpox) has been endemic in Western and Central Africa for 50 years, it has not received sufficient prophylactic and therapeutical attention to avoid evolving into an epidemic. From January 2022 to January 2023, more than 84,000 of mpox cases were reported from 110 countries worldwide. Case numbers appear to be rising every day, making mpox an increasing global public health threat for the foreseeable future. In this perspective, we review the known biology and epidemiology of mpox virus, together with the latest therapeutic options available for mpox treatment. Further, small molecule inhibitors against mpox virus and the future directions in this field are discussed as well.

Automated summary

Although monkeypox has been endemic in Africa for 50 years, it has not received enough attention to prevent it from becoming an epidemic. From January 2022 to January 2023, over 84,000 cases were reported worldwide, making monkeypox a growing global health threat. This review discusses the biology, epidemiology, and new therapeutic options for monkeypox, as well as potential inhibitors and future directions in this field.