It is the drug that has been hailed by the White House as key to the fight against COVID-19. Vice President Kamala Harris was prescribed it after she tested positive for the virus. We’re talking about Paxlovid, the antiviral medication from Pfizer.
It is the drug that has been hailed by the White House as key to saving lives in the fight against COVID-19. Vice President Kamala Harris was prescribed it after she tested positive for the virus.
Read more: Dr. Fauci says U.S. ‘out of the pandemic phase’ — but COVID-19 will never be fully eradicatedWhat is Paxlovid? Paxlovid is the brand name for a drug that is actually a combination of two drugs — nirmatrelvir and ritonavir. The former is an antiviral medication, while the latter is what’s known as a “pharmacokinetic booster” — meaning it helps boost the effect of the nirmatrelvir.
How effective is Paxlovid? Very effective. Pfizer said in December that data from a late-stage trial showed that Paxlovid decreased the chance of hospitalization or death from COVID-19 in high-risk adults by 89%. Pfizer chief executive Albert Bourla said in a statement that the treatment “could be a critical tool to help quell the pandemic.” And Fauci said the U.S. is still “under utilizing what is a highly effective therapy.
Is Paxlovid being offered outside the United States? Yes. The European Union has approved it for use in treating COVID-19. The World Health Organization has also recommended it. And Pfizer has taken steps to boost its distribution globally, such as working with the United Nations International Children’s Emergency Fund to supply the drug to low- and middle-income nations.