US approves Paxlovid tablets for coronavirus treatment

According to the AP, US citizens with COVID-19 will be able to be treated with Paxlid at home in order to avoid a severe form of the disease. The developers of the drug said that it is probably also effective against the new Omicron strain.

The study involved 2250 patients. The results showed that taking these pills reduced the number of hospitalizations and deaths by 89% among patients with mild to moderate disease when prescribed within three days of the onset of symptoms.

Less than 1% of those taking the drug were hospitalized. None of the study participants died.

It is specified that in order to receive "Paklovid", the patient must present a positive result of the PCR test, and the drug itself is effective only in the first five days after the onset of symptoms.

The first batches of the drug will be limited. The American authorities intend to purchase a drug for the treatment of 10 million citizens.

Note that Pakslovid is the world's first pill designed specifically for the treatment of coronavirus infection. A similar drug is also developed by Merck, but has not yet been approved.

Recall that Pfizer CEO Albert Burla expressed confidence that the emergence of more affordable drugs to increase will contribute to a more successful fight against new strains of coronavirus. He also said that once approved, Paklovid could be a critical tool in helping to cope with the pandemic.