In a study from the University of Colorado, scientists found Paxlovid remains highly effective in fighting omicron variants.
They examined the effectiveness of nirmatrelvir-ritonavir (Paxlovid) in non-hospitalized patients during an omicron period of the COVID-19 pandemic that includes BA.4 and BA.5 subvariants.
Though many Coloradans are proceeding as though the COVID-19 pandemic is over, the virus continues to circulate, evolve and have an impact—especially for older adults and those with underlying medical conditions.
Furthermore, because of the evolution of variants, doctors have fewer treatment options. Right now, the only two effective antiviral treatment options are Paxlovid and Remdesivir.
In the study, the team aimed to determine if Paxlovid is effective against omicron variants B.4 and B.5.
They examined the data of patients who had one or more risk factors for severe disease, hospitalization or death—and who either did or did not receive Paxlovid.
They evaluated the rate of hospitalization or death and found that the use of Paxlovid strongly reduced rates of hospitalization and death.
The team explained that an observational study design using real-world data is meant to imitate a clinical trial.
Paxlovid was effective in preventing hospitalization among almost all important subgroups of outpatients that were assessed and who qualify for its use under the Emergency Use Authorization (EUA), including those vaccinated.
This study is noteworthy as it is one of the first to examine the effectiveness of Paxlovid in non-hospitalized patients during an omicron period of the COVID-19 pandemic that includes BA.4/BA.5 subvariants.
Beyond its effectiveness in keeping patients out of the hospital, Paxlovid was linked to a lower rate of post-treatment emergency department visits, which suggests a lower likelihood of more severe rebound symptoms, although the study could not evaluate the effect on milder rebound symptoms.
If you care about COVID, please read studies about the cause of severe COVID symptoms, and Omega-3 fatty acids may help reduce severe COVID-19.
For more information about COVID, please see recent studies about antibodies that block all the COVID-19 variants, and results showing zinc could help reduce COVID-19 infection risk.
The study was conducted by Adit Ginde et al and published in The Lancet Infectious Diseases.
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