The second oral pill against the COVID-19 was registered in the United Kingdom. Pfizer’s Paxlovid is now available as a medical treatment against the novel pathogen at home.
The Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) on Friday got the green light to use of a second oral COVID-19 pill to be taken at home across the UK. “This treatment could be life-saving,” said June Raine, MHRA CEO.
Agency confirmed that Pfizer’s Paxlovid can be given to people 18+ with mild to moderate coronavirus symptoms and who are at risk of developing severe disease. Thus, life’s quality of elder people or patients with obesity, diabetes or heart disease has increased.
Paxlovid is a combination of two pills, reduced the risk of hospitalization or death by 89 percent compared with those given a placebo.
While the UK was hit by the fast-spreading omicron, Paxlovid strengthens availability of effective treatment options. The novel corona variant has mutations that can dodge the protective effects of Roche/Regeneron’s monoclonal antibody Ronapreve, which has been used for some time in the UK.
Paxlovid became the second oral antiviral to be conditionally approved for use in England recently, after MSD/Ridgeback’s molnupiravir (or Lagevrio). Both drugs are used to treat people at home and both medicines must be given within five days of symptoms.
