For several months, research around an effective oral tablet against Covid-19 has been increasing. For the American laboratories Merck (MSD) and Pfizer this is probably done.
While an antidepressant, fluvoxamine appears to be showing promising signs against severe forms of Covid-19, the pills from the US giants are opening a new chapter in the fight against the pandemic. The pharmaceutical company Merck had already announced in early October the effectiveness of its antiviral pill, molnupiravir. This Friday, November 5, Pfizer joined him with his paxlovid.
These antivirals would work by reducing the ability of the virus to replicate, thus slowing down the disease.
medium;">Both groups report a sharp reduction in hospitalizations among patients who took their treatments: by half for molnupiravir and almost 90% for paxlovid. However, these efficacy rates remain difficult to compare due to the different protocols depending on the studies.
A ADVANCE IN THE FIGHT AGAINST COVID-19
If the effectiveness of the pills is certified, they would add to vaccination - and not replace it - to complete the therapeutic arsenal against the virus. Of course, treatments already exist, but mainly in the form of synthetic antibodies. And these drugs, which generally target patients already suffering from severe forms, are injected intravenously and are therefore complex to give.
Conversely, a pill or tablet can be quickly prescribed to a patient who will then easily take it at home. The treatments of Merck and Pfizer, which also evoke few side effects, provide about ten intakes in five days.
APPROVED BY SOME, STILL REVIEWED BY OTHERS
Merck's molnupiravir is already approved in the UK. The British health authorities on Thursday, November 4 gave their approval for its use in patients with at least one risk factor for developing a serious form (elderly, obese, diabetic ...). Health authorities in the United States and the European Union, meanwhile, are urgently examining the drug. As of yet, no release date has been given.
For paxlovid, Pfizer refers to an application for authorization in the United States only. He promises that the price of the drug will be "affordable" and differentiated according to the countries and their level of development.
The two pharmaceutical giants have only published press releases, without providing details of their clinical trials. If their results seem very conclusive a priori, precautions are in order. Last September, the infectious disease specialist Karine Lacombe underlined the "potentially huge" market that these treatments represent for manufacturers.
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