This week, the FDA authorized two oral antivirals for the treatment of COVID-19 in certain patients.
The first is Pfizer’s Paxlovid (nirmatrelvir tablets and ritonavir tablets, co-packaged for oral use).
It is authorized for the treatment of mild-to-moderate COVID-19 in adults and pediatric patients (12 years of age and older weighing at least 40 kilograms or about 88 pounds) with positive results of direct SARS-CoV-2 testing, and who are at high risk for progression to severe COVID-19, including hospitalization or death.
The second is Merck’s molnupiravir is authorized for the treatment of mild-to-moderate COVID-19 in adults with positive results of direct SARS-CoV-2 viral testing.
It also helps treat who are at high risk for progression to severe COVID-19, including hospitalization or death, and for whom alternative COVID-19 treatment options authorized by the FDA are not accessible or clinically appropriate.
FDA says both treatments are available by prescription only and should be initiated as soon as possible after the diagnosis of COVID-19 and within five days of symptom onset.
If you care about COVID, please read studies about everything you need to know about COVID-19 booster shots, and COVID-19 booster shots prompt stronger, longer protection than original shots.
For more information about the pandemic, please see recent studies about people with this job that has lower risk of getting COVID-19, and results showing that scientists develop new COVID vaccine for people with weak immune systems.
