UK medicines regulator approves Pfizer’s ‘life-saving’ Covid pill

[Harvist]

"UK regulators have approved Pfizer’s “life-saving” antiviral drug Paxlovid, which boasts nearly 90% success in preventing severe illness among vulnerable adults if taken soon after becoming infected with Covid-19.

The agency said Paxlovid was most effective when taken during the early stages of a Covid infection, and recommended it was used within five days of a patient’s first symptoms. The approval is for patients aged 18 and over with at least one risk factor for developing severe illness, such as obesity or diabetes, or being over 60.

“We now have a further antiviral medicine for the treatment of Covid-19 that can be taken by mouth rather than administered intravenously. This means it can be administered outside a hospital setting, before Covid-19 has progressed to a severe stage.

“I hope the announcement gives reassurance to those particularly vulnerable to Covid-19, for whom this treatment has been approved. For these individuals, this treatment could be life-saving.”

Pfizer has said the drug showed near 90% efficacy in preventing hospitalisations and deaths in high-risk patients, with recent data suggesting the pill was also effective against the Omicron variant.

Before Christmas Pfizer said the UK government had agreed to purchase 2.5m courses of Paxlovid after an earlier purchase of 250,000 doses, conditional on regulatory approval."

Article in the Guardian at 1600 today.

All we need now is a clear route to actually getting it!!!

[Eucalyptus22]

I think the clear route to actually getting it will be the biggest hurdle. The government approved antiviral tablets last November but has anyone received any yet or been advised how to get them? When I questioned my GP he knew nothing about any protocols to administer them so I guess it will be months before we get access to these new ones. At least there are reports on this site of successful access to MABs.

[Mijoed in reply to Eucalyptus22]

And the advice, if you test positive and are not contacted within 24 hrs, is to call your GP or 111. My GP also knows nothing about and early treatment options. A sad state of affairs when JCVI and NHS documentation is freely available/distributed, most of us know what is supposed to happen, but the chain stops there.

[LeoPa]

Our government canceled the monupiravir order and replaced it by paxlovid. They say it should arrive sometime in the first half of 2022. I'm sure we will have plenty of it by the time nobody needs it 😁

[Annie1920]

Some health authorities are well advanced eg Bristol and South Gloucester.. This authority had published a pathway document where GPS and hospital medics can check if patients are registered and if not an register eligible ones

remedy.bnssgccg.nhs.uk/covi...

Sadly neighbouring Somerset has nothing.. Even the CMDUs are just proposed so nothing available yet

[bennevisplace]

If the reported purchase agreement for 2.5 million doses is true, that's more like it!

The treatment protocol will be similar to that already published for Molnupiravir, except that Paxlovid is two different pills copackaged. I would happily take P, though there are serious contraindications for some.

Septuagenarians will be amused to read that being over 60 is a risk factor!

[casanova]

In an ideal world we would all have a pack in our meds cupboard, but a fast, clear access route would be wonderfully reassuring.Maureen UK

[francc]

Paxlovid, could interfere with ibrutinib.