WHO backs Paxlovid for high-risk COVID patients

The World Health Organization (WHO) today strongly recommended Pfizer's Paxlovid drug for mild to moderately sick COVID-19 patients who are part of high-risk groups, but also called for efforts to boost access to the treatment for low- to middle-income countries.Also, the WHO updated its recommendation for another antiviral, remdesivir.WHO pushes for equal access to PaxlovidPaxlovid is an oral SARS-CoV-2 protease inhibitor called nirmatrelvir that is given with a low dose of the HIV antiviral drug ritonavir, which can boost the level of protease inhibitors.

The drug combo is designed to be given at the first sign of illness and is taken twice a day for 5 days. In December, the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) authorized the drug for emergency use.In a statement, the WHO said it based the recommendation on new data from two randomized controlled trials that included 3,078 patients, which suggested that Paxlovid can cut the risk of hospitalization by 85% among high-risk groups.The WHO said its recommendation applies to those who are at highest risk for severe disease, such as those who are unvaccinated, older, or immunocompromised.

It added that data showed benefits were negligible in lower-risk patients.However, the WHO aired concerns about two obstacles for rollout of the drug to low- and middle-income countries.

One is access to early testing and diagnosis, since the drug needs to be given in the earlier stages of infection. The WHO pointed to data that suggest average daily testing rates in lower-income countries are one-eightieth that of higher-income countries.The second concern revolves around an unclear picture of availability and pricing information from the company.