Paxlovid Anti-Viral Drug [UPSC Notes]

Antiviral drug Paxlovid can lower the risk of developing long COVID and some post-COVID conditions, according to a study of US veterans’ medical records. In this context, know more about the drug Paxlovid, and its effect on COVID infections. This topic is relevant for the IAS exam health segment.

Paxlovid

Paxlovid is an oral antiviral pill that was developed by Pfizer. It received emergency use authorisation from the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in December 2022 for COVID-19. Paxlovid is the brand name of the drug and it is made up of two generic medications, namely, nirmatrelvir and ritonavir.

How does Paxlovid work?

Nirmatrelvir inhibits a key enzyme that the COVID virus requires in order to make functional virus particles. After nirmatrelvir treatment, the COVID virus that is released from the cells is no longer able to enter uninfected cells in the body, which, in turn, stops the infection. Ritonavir is used to boost levels of antiviral medicines. It was earlier used to treat HIV/AIDS.

Arguments Supporting the Efficacy of Paxlovid against COVID

• According to a study, the antiviral medication Paxlovid seems to reduce the chance of developing long COVID.
• The study examined medical records from over 280,000 COVID-positive patients with at least one risk factor for severe illness.
• The patients who took Paxlovid within five days of their positive test result had a lower risk of post-COVID conditions compared to those who did not.
• Paxlovid lowered the relative risk of developing 10 out of 13 long-term health problems, including heart problems, blood clots, kidney damage, muscle pain, fatigue, and shortness of breath.
• The drug reduced the risk of long COVID for unvaccinated people, those who were vaccinated with one or two doses, and people who had at least one booster shot.

Argument Raising Questions on the Efficacy of Paxlovid

• Some researchers dispute whether the study fully captures ‘what long COVID is’. Long COVID is notoriously hard to define, and it’s challenging to differentiate who has it and who doesn’t from electronic medical records.
• Some long COVID symptoms, such as post-exertional malaise, do not have a medical code, making it difficult to capture them in medical record reviews.
• The study’s limitations include that most patients in the Veterans Affairs system are white males, whereas long COVID patients tend to be female.
• While Paxlovid and other treatments might reduce the risk of long COVID, they are not a panacea and may not cure the condition completely.

Is Paxlovid Available in India?

Yes, it is available in India. Pfizer has signed a licensing agreement for Paxlovid with 30 drugmakers globally, including 19 Indian companies. In India, generic versions of the drug are available at around Rs.5000 per course. The prices vary with the generic drug maker. Some of the names under which it is available are Nirmacom, Paxgen, etc.

Conclusion: The antiviral drug Paxlovid has been shown to reduce the risk of developing long COVID and several post-COVID conditions. However, questions remain about the specificity of the study for long COVID and the drug’s overall effectiveness, and further research is needed.

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