Patients with Covid age 12 and older can now be treated with Paxlovid Pills after being licensed for emergency use by the Food and Drug Administration on Wednesday. Paxlowwood is made by Pfizer. Dr. Patricia Kavazoni, director of the FDA Drug Research and Evaluation Center, said:
Today’s license represents the first treatment for Covid 19, which is taken orally in pill form and is a big step towards the fight against globalization. The license provides a new tool to combat Covid 19 in critical global emergencies as new species emerge, promising greater access for patients at high risk of severe Covid 19 antiviral therapy.
In early November, Pfizer released the results of a trial of its new oral drug, which said it would reduce the incidence and mortality rate of Covid 19 by 89 percent. While the results were not reviewed by experts, Paxlovid’s strong effectiveness prompted the Independent Data Monitoring Committee to recommend an early end to the trial.
Paxlovid is the second Covid 19 tablet to be made. The first pill is Mulnopiravir, developed by Merck. The results of the third phase trial of molnopiravir were released on October 1. While the initial results showed a 50% reduction in the risk of hospitalization and death due to Covid 19, further analysis showed that molnopiravir was only 30% effective. Despite disappointing results, in late November the FDA’s decision-making committee approved it for emergency use by a vote of 13 to 10.
Production of the drug that eventually led to the production of Paxlovid began after the 2002 outbreak of SARS. It works by inhibiting the protease enzyme found in many coronaviruses, including SARS-CoV-2. Inhibition of this enzyme prevents the virus from multiplying in the body. Paxloid is also approved by the European Medicines Agency’s Human Medicines Committee for the treatment of non-severe cases of Covid.
There is currently not enough supply of Paxlovid, and Pfizer says less than 200,000 doses will be available by the end of this year. But with the help of contract manufacturers, another 120 million doses will be produced by the end of 2022.
The FDA emphasizes that Paxlovid is not designed to prevent post-exposure infection and is not recommended for severe cases that require hospitalization. In fact, the agency makes it clear that the drug is not a substitute for vaccination. But with the spread of omicrons around the world, doctors will have other tools to treat Quid 19.
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