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Author: Admin | 2025-04-28
Key TakeawaysPfizer's oral drug to treat COVID-19 is the first of its kind to receive FDA authorization.The treatment, called Paxlovid, is a protease inhibitor, a class of drug used to treat HIV and hepatitis C.The drug could potentially be used against other coronaviruses, in addition to COVID-19. Pfizer's new oral drug, Paxlovid, is the first COVID-19 pill to receive authorization from the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Experts say this is a game-changer because people would be able to take the drug at home, possibly eliminating the need to visit a hospital to receive treatment. Under the emergency use authorization (EUA), Paxlovid will be available via prescription to people 12 and older with confirmed mild-to-moderate COVID-19 who are at high risk of developing a severe case of the disease. A severe case means a patient could become hospitalized, need intensive care, require a ventilator, or even die. A patient should take the oral drug at the first sign of illness, decreasing their chance of becoming seriously ill with the disease. Pfizer says the drug may be able to reduce burden on hospitals. “Tackling the COVID-19 pandemic requires both prevention via vaccine and targeted treatment for those who contract the virus," Mikael Dolsten, MD, PhD, Chief Scientific Officer and President of Pfizer said in a statement. "Given the way that SARS-CoV-2 is mutating and the continued global impact of COVID-19, it appears likely that it will be critical to have access to therapeutic options both now and beyond the pandemic."Who Is At High Risk for Severe COVID-19?According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), conditions and factors that may place someone at high risk for severe COVID include, but are not limited to:CancerChronic kidney diseaseChronic liver diseaseChronic lung diseaseDementia or other neurological conditionsDiabetesDown syndromeHeart conditionsHIVImmunocompromised stateMental health conditionsObesityPregnancySickle cell diseaseSmokingOrgan transplant recipientStrokeSubstance abuse disordersTuberculosis Pfizer's New Oral Drug The company developed the first U.S. authorized COVID-19 vaccine in partnership with BioNTech. Now they're making strides in COVID-19 treatment. The company is also developing an antiviral COVID-19 treatment that would be administered intravenously. This option would be available for hospitalized
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