For the first time, the High Authority authorized early oral treatment against CVIV-19 for serious-form risk. The many interactions with other medications could limit its use.
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Even before the downstream of the health authorities, Paxlovid, the Pfizer’s Anti-Covid Pill, was already advertised as available in French pharmacies in late January. Presented by its manufacturer as the drug capable of changing the gandemic, this antiviral has been allowed Friday 21 January by the High Authority of Health (HAS) for treatment early people at the grave-form risk of COVID-19 (not requiring oxygen therapy). This green light follows a view of the National Medicine Safety Agency and Health Products (ANSM). The European drug agency had given a provisional opinion favorable on December 16, 2021.
Paxlovid is the first treatment in town, and may be prescribed by general practitioners, highlights the HAS, which specifically list the indications. The French state has already ordered 500,000 doses. In fact, on paper, millions of people are potentially concerned. These are “severely immunocompromised adult patients with a very high-grave risk pathology – especially cancers during treatment, polypathologies, trisomy 21 or some rare diseases, regardless of their age and vaccinal status”. It is also intended for “patients beyond 65 years of risk factors to develop serious forms (diabetes, obesity, chronic renal insufficiency, heart failure, high blood pressure, respiratory failure …), especially when these people are not Not completely vaccinated “.
An expected drug,” for patients at risk “
In practice, the paxlovid should be taken for five days (with two daily plugs of three tablets), as soon as possible after a positive test and maximum within five days of the appearance of the symptoms.
In the current predominantly context of the Omicron Variant, this oral medicine – the first authorized in France – was particularly expected. “In the absence of effective monoclonal antibodies in this indication, Paxlovid could be the only processing available to prevent evolution towards a serious form in infected risk patients”, points the Scientific advice in its latest opinion, made public on January 20 .
Is there a risk of broader use in the population to shorten the duration and intensity of symptoms, particularly among non-vaccinated? “Paxlovid should be reserved for at-risk patients, it is only in these populations that we have clinical studies and therefore data on the risk-risk ratio. Pedagogy will be necessary to respect the indications”, warns Christelle Ratignier-Carbonon, the Director-General of ANSM.
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