Paxlovid as an Effective Drug Approved by FDA for COVID-19
It is interesting that Pfizer Inc. reported that paxlovid (PF-07321332; ritonavir), an oral antiviral drug, has been shown to drastically lower hospital admissions, which account for 89% of covid-19 patients, particularly those who are at high risk of developing serious disease. Additionally, following randomization, patients receiving paxlovid treatment were admitted to the hospital up until day 28; among those who received treatment after the onset of symptoms throughout a three-day period, there were no fatalities. The SARS-CoV-2-3 CL protease, required for coronavirus replication, is inhibited by the medication PF-07321332 (paxlovid; ritonavir). During a stage known as proteolysis, Paxlovid (PF-07321332; ritonavir) can also halt viral replication before viral RNA replication. According to www.pfizer.com/news/press-release/press-release-detail/pfizers-novel-covid-19-oral-antiviral-treatment-candidate, Pfizer Inc. now intends to submit the data as soon as feasible to the U.S. FDA as part of its ongoing rolling submission (83, 84).
According to a large new study (85), those who took the antiviral medication Paxlovid shortly after contracting the coronavirus were less likely to continue to experience long-lasting COVID-19 months later. The results imply that Paxlovid not only lowers the chance of being hospitalized or dying from a coronavirus infection, but it also lowers the likelihood of long-term symptoms for those who are medically eligible for the antiviral, such as older adults or people with specific health issues. The results are extremely provocative and point to the urgent need for additional research on antiviral medicines and their impact on extended COVID-19. It was also found that the treatment with Paxlovid within 5 days of a positive SARS-CoV-2 test was associated with a lower risk of PASC regardless of vaccination status and history of prior infection in individuals with SARS-CoV-2 infection who had at least one risk factor for progression to severe COVID-19 infection.