Paxlovid is a drug targeted at people with confirmed SARS-CoV-2 infection and at risk of severe COVID-19. Its effectiveness is very good and amounts to 85-89%. – Prof. Agnieszka Szuster-Ciesielska from the Department of Virology and Immunology at the Maria Curie-Skłodowska University in Lublin.
- The principle of paxlovid is that the coronavirus loses its ability to multiply
- The drug will be prescribed by general practitioners to patients who are at high risk of developing a severe infection
- Prof. Szuster-Ciesielska explains that the preparation should be taken quickly as soon as symptoms appear in order to be effective. It is not prophylactic
- You can find more about the coronavirus on the TvoiLokony home page
Paxlovid – how does it work?
The European Medicines Agency conditionally authorized the admission to the European Union market of an antiviral drug under the trade name paxlovid. It is addressed to people with confirmed SARS-CoV-2 infection and at risk of severe COVID-19.
Further part under the video.
– It is a drug that consists of two active compounds. The package contains 30 tablets, 20 of which is the active substance PF-07321332, and 10 tablets are ritonavir, which is used in the treatment of HIV. The job of both substances is to block the conserved viral protease enzyme that the coronavirus uses for its replication. This causes it to lose its ability to multiply – informed Prof. Szuster-Ciesielska, stressing that, at the same time, Mr.axlovid may also be effective against other variants of the coronavirus.
She announced that the drug is intended for people at risk of severe COVID-19. She added that – like molnopuravir – paxlovid will be prescribed by GPs who will assess whether you are at risk.
– Time is an important factor here, because this the drug works very well when administered as soon as possible, within 3-5 days of the first symptoms appearing. That is why patients should not delay visiting a doctor, in particular people with other chronic diseases and the elderly – explained the professor.
She expressed the hope that paxlovid will be quickly available in Poland, but it depends on the company’s production capabilities, and then the distribution of the preparation in Europe and Poland. – Importantly, the drug cannot be used prophylactically before the onset of COVID-19 symptoms – added the virologist.
She also noted the price of the preparation. – It’s not a cheap drug. It costs about $ 530. for the packaging. So the question arises, what will happen with the reimbursement, will it be total – emphasized the professor.
She emphasized that the effectiveness of paxlovid in reducing COVID-19 complications requiring hospitalization is very good, amounting to 85-89%.
When asked which oral medication is better: molnopuravir or paxlovid, she replied that she thought it was paxlovid. – Because it has a different mechanism of action that blocks viral protease and is highly effective. On the other hand, molnopuravir increases the number of mutations in the virus, which experiences a “fault catastrophe” and as a result loses its ability to replicate. Merck initially spoke of 50 percent. molnupiravir’s efficacy in treating COVID-19, but later revised it to 30%. Explained the virologist.
– If I had the opportunity to choose the drug myself, I would choose paxlovid – said Prof. Szuster-Ciesielska.
You can buy a pulse oximeter at an attractive price at medonetmarket.pl
Author: Gabriela Bogaczyk / PAP
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