In a new study from Pfizer, researchers found for patients with COVID-19, treatment with nirmatrelvir plus ritonavir results in a lower risk for progression to severe COVID-19.
They conducted a phase 2 to 3 clinical trial involving symptomatic, unvaccinated, non-hospitalized adults at high risk for progression to severe COVID-19.
A total of 2,246 patients were assigned to 300 mg nirmatrelvir plus 100 mg ritonavir or placebo every 12 hours for five days.
The team found in an analysis of 774 patients treated within three days after symptom onset, the incidence of COVID-19-related hospitalization or death by day 28 was lower in the nirmatrelvir versus the placebo group.
In the final analysis, involving 1,379 patients who commenced treatment within three days after symptom onset and did not receive monoclonal antibodies, efficacy was maintained.
On day 5 of treatment, the viral load was lower with nirmatrelvir plus ritonavir versus placebo. Through day 34, there were no deaths noted in recipients of nirmatrelvir; there were 13 among placebo recipients.
The team says treatment with nirmatrelvir plus ritonavir early in COVID-19 illness can decrease progression to severe disease and quickly reduce SARS-CoV-2 viral load.
If you care about COVID, please read studies that COVID-19 ‘herd immunity’ is unlikely, and FDA supports this antiviral drug for mild-to-moderate COVID-19.
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The study is published in the New England Journal of Medicine and was conducted by Jennifer Hammond et al.
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