Despite clinical trials showing that it could significantly reduce the risk of death in COVID patients, studies have shown that antivirals like Paxlovid are being “vastly underused” during the pandemic.
Clinical trials, conducted before FDA approval, showed that the use of Paxlovid, an antiviral produced by Pfizer, could reduce the risk of death in COVID patients by as much as 89%.Another significant caveat was added to the mix onthat the treatment provided “little or no benefit” in terms of avoiding hospitalization among adults between the ages of 40 and 65.
Adults over the age of 65 did see a 75% reduction in hospitalizations when prescribed the treatment, according to the study. U.S. officials do caution that the Israeli study did have significant limitations, including the use of system-wide data rather than conducting a randomized study with a control group.
Paxlovid has been authorized by the FDA for use in patients who are over the age of 12 and are considered at high-risk for COVID complications due to conditions like obesity, heart disease and diabetes.Paxlovid is taken in a five-day sequence, with patients taking three pills in each of two daily doses.