How does Pfizer’s COVID-19 pill work and who gets it?

For starters, it’s oral antiviral treatment. In other words, it’s a pill that helps fight the symptoms of COVID-19.

But let’s take a look at the details of the treatment here.

How does it work?

Paxlovid consists of two antiviral drugs packaged together: nirmatrelvir and ritonavir.

Patients take 3 tablets twice daily. Two tablets are Nirmatrelvir and one is ritonavir. In total, all courses of treatment require 30 tablets in 5 days.

Nilmatrelvir is a new drug developed by Pfizer BioNTech, and ritonavir is an existing drug commonly used to treat HIV / AIDS.

According to health experts, the two drugs work together. Nilmatrelvir does hard work by hacking the ability of the virus to replicate and multiply, while ritonavir acts as a companion to Nirmatrelville and can stay in the body longer.

Paxlovid is called a protease inhibitor, explained Dr. Isaac Bogoch, an infectious disease specialist at the Toronto General Hospital.

“By blocking part of the life cycle, we block the virus from dividing,” he said, which makes it easier for the immune system to fight off the virus.

However, it is important to start treatment immediately after infection, Bogotti said.

According to immunologist Dr. David Bert, who is also a member of the Task Force on Vaccine Equity in Toronto, the only drawback of these types of treatments is the “very narrow opportunity” before the drug loses its effectiveness.

If taken within 5 days of infection, Pfizer’s clinical trials show that this drug 85% reduction in hospitalization or death risk..

Who can access Paxlovid?

When Canadians need a prescription to get Pax Rovid, Health Canada..

The Public Health Agency of Canada (PHAC) is working with a group of clinical experts to determine how to optimally distribute Paxlovid and deliver it to the most vulnerable people in the country.

Dr. Howard Njoo, Deputy Director of Public Health in Canada, vaccinated people with immunodeficiency, over 80 years of age, or those who may not have access to medical care due to geographical or socio-economic concerns. It is said that they are lined up first regardless of the situation.

However, he noted that an early limited supply of drugs could complicate things.

Dr. Supriya Sharma, Chief Medical Advisor of Health Canada, said the global supply of the drug is still tight and Canada is competing with other countries for more Paxlovid treatment.

“Canada has a small amount in the first place, but we’ll get even more in the coming months,” she said.

See | How can patients have access to COVID-19 antivirals?

How can patients have access to COVID-19 antivirals?

Infectious disease experts Dr. Susie Jota and Dr. Isaac Bogotti show how people can access the new COVID-19 antiviral drug Paxrovid and how it affects the medical system. Talk about. 4:09

It is important to note that patients seeking treatment need to ensure a positive PCR test to confirm that they are infected with COVID-19. However, due to the latest waves of Omicron, lab testing capabilities are limited in many parts of the country. In other words, just taking a test can create your own set of challenges.

If PCR testing is not available, the Supreme Public Health Director, Dr. Theresa Tam, said: Rapid antigen test Also enough.

You need to take the drug early in your illness (within 5 days of the onset of symptoms), so you can get both a positive test and a prescription 24 hours a day.

How much do I have to pay for a Paxlovid course?

If you qualify for a Paxlovid prescription, it doesn’t cost you anything out of your pocket. The federal government will handle the bill.

“We provide these medicines to states and territories for free. Therefore, there is no cost to individuals. There is no cost to states or territories,” Sharma said.

When will it be available?

There is no exact date when Paxlovid will be widely available to the public, but Canada is already Purchase 1 million times..

According to Health Minister Jean-Yves Duclos, the first batch of 30,000 sets of tablets has already been distributed and is expected to receive more than 120,000 additional treatments by March.

See | Despite the logistic hurdles, Paxlovid shows great expectations, Bogoch says:

Pfizer’s new COVID-19 antiviral drug “a big step forward,” experts say

Paxlovid, a Pfizer pill for treating COVID-19, shows great expectations, despite some logistical hurdles to delivering the drug to those in need, said an infectious disease specialist. Says Dr. Isaac Bogoch. 3:04

“The state will basically get the same amount of medicine per person — but not so much,” Bogok said. “Basically, you will get an amount of medicine that is proportional to your population.”

This initial amount will be less than what is needed, Bogotti said. However, he emphasized that what he received would be put to good use fairly quickly.

“I think it will take months before we actually get more of this medicine,” he said.

Is Paxlovid a vaccine replacement?

Absolutely not, experts say.

“The best thing we can do for our health is to reduce the chance of getting infected in the first place,” said Dr. Lisa Barrett, an infectious disease specialist based at Dalhousie University in Halifax.

This means that Paxlovid is not a replacement for the COVID-19 vaccine. Instead, it is used in addition to the vaccine. Experts say it acts as an additional layer of protection to combat the coronavirus.

Kevin Mohammed, a spokesman for Pfizer Canada, said:

There is an important fundamental difference in how vaccines and antivirals target the virus.

Unlike vaccines, Paxlovid does not target mutated peplomers. Instead, it attacks the virus’s ability to spread. So, regardless of the variant, treatment should help fight the virus.

One thing Paxlovid has in common with vaccines is that vaccines share some of the same goals. It is to reduce the rate of hospitalization and death of COVID-19.

Is it effective against Omicron?

Early data suggest that Paxrovid is effective against Omicron mutants.

Three separate laboratory studies published by Pfizer show that PF-ERMATREBIL, a portion of Paxlovid that blocks the growth of the virus, maintains antiviral activity against COVID-19 variants, including Omicron. understand.

You can read those lab studies here, here When here..

Although the study is “very, very promising,” Mohammed said the company continues to test and evaluate how effective the treatment is for the mutant strains of concern.

Do you have any questions about this story? I give as many answers as possible in the comments.