Recent studies on Paxlovid have shown that it is 89% effective. Pfizer called it a success and decided to expedite it
What is Paxlovid or Paxlovid?
This is a new drug from Pfizer that is suitable for the treatment and prevention of COVID-19. It can also be used at home.
Paxlovid was developed specifically forpreoral intake for about 1.5 years. At the beginning of November 2021, the company said that the drug showed an effectiveness of about 89%. This result was so successful that the manufacturer decided to seek emergency use authorization for the drug from the FDA.
What is the active ingredient in Paxlovid?
Inside the drug there is a substance PF-07321332 - it blocks the work of the viral protease, in other words, the main enzyme that is needed for viral reproduction.
In addition, Paxlovid contains a small amount of ritonavir - its work slows down the breakdown of the main substance so that it can act in the body for as long as possible.
The work of the drug can be compared with inhibitorsproteases that are most often used for therapy against HIV and hepatitis. Such medications are aimed at reducing the activity of viral reproduction, as well as the viral load on the body.
How was Paxlovid tested and what are the results?
The drug was last tested duringintermediate phase 2/3 study. The results were published in a company press release. 1,219 volunteers were involved in the tests. They were divided into two identical groups: one was given Paxlovid every 12 hours, and the other received a placebo.
Among those who began to receive the medicine during the periodfrom three days from the onset of the first symptoms of coronavirus, only 0.8% were hospitalized 28 days after the start of the trial. This is three people out of 389. All volunteers received the medicine for five days in a row. Not a single person in the Paxlovid group died.
But in the placebo group, 7% were hospitalized, that’s 27 people out of 385. Seven volunteers died.
Researchers observed almost the same thing amonggroups that received the drug and a placebo, but only after five days from the onset of coronavirus symptoms. In the Paxlovid group, 1%, or six of 667 people, were hospitalized. No one died. In the placebo group, 6.7% of participants were hospitalized, that's 41 out of 612 people. Ten died.
The researchers also assessed the safety of the drug in 1,881 volunteers: side effects were detected in 19% of people taking the drug. All negative effects were mild.
What strains will Paxlovid help against?
Based on the results of the intermediate phase 2/3 of the studythe drug showed serious antiviral activity and successfully dealt with all previously discovered variants of SARS-CoV-2. In particular, the drug also acted against the delta strain.
What are the instructions for using Paxlovid?
Note that the drug has not yet beencertified. But some information about the application has already appeared. Paxlovid is used for outpatient treatment and should be started as soon as the first symptoms of the new type of coronavirus appear. Experts note that patients will be asked to take three tablets a day.
How will Paxlovid be tested in Russia?
Paxlovid tests are going to be carried out at the global level, in several countries at once, including in Russia. A total of 7,000 volunteers were involved.
In Russia, testing will take place at the basepublic and private medical institutions located in the Moscow region, St. Petersburg, Smolensk, Barnaul, as well as in other cities. 90 Russians will take part in the tests. The company said that if the drug is approved by local authorities in the countries where it is being tested, then Paxlovid will begin to be delivered there.
Vaccine and medicine, one replaces the other or not?
As explained by Ilya Yasny, head of the scientificAccording to the expertise of the pharmaceutical venture fund Inbio Ventures, the medicine does not cancel vaccination. If a vaccinated person becomes infected, he can take medicine to reduce the likelihood of a severe case. But if the patient is not vaccinated, then the number of cases will grow faster.
Pfizer's new drug is going well so farall clinical trials on a large sample of volunteers. Testing the drug in Russia may lead to its certification and widespread use for prevention. True, this can be hindered not only by failure in clinical trials, but also by the price of Paxlovid, because it is compared with the cost of another similar drug - molnupiravir. One five-day course costs $700. You can read more about how molnupiravir works by following this link.
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