TUESDAY, Might 10, 2022
Rare circumstances of COVID sufferers relapsing after taking the antiviral tablet Paxlovid are elevating questions amongst some consultants.
An earlier examine of 1,000 adults confirmed that Paxlovid was extremely efficient at stopping extreme COVID and the U.S. authorities has purchased sufficient of the drug to deal with 20 million individuals.
However there have been studies of signs returning in sufferers a number of days after finishing the five-day routine of Paxlovid, prompting some medical doctors to marvel if these sufferers are nonetheless contagious and may take a second spherical of the drug.
However the U.S. Meals and Drug Administration final week suggested towards a second spherical, saying there’s little threat of extreme sickness or hospitalization amongst sufferers who relapse after taking Paxlovid.
The Pfizer drug was examined and approved based mostly on its effectiveness towards the Delta variant and could also be much less efficient towards Omicron, famous Dr. Michael Charness, who works for Boston’s VA well being system.
He handled a 71-year-old vaccinated affected person whose signs eased however then returned, together with a surge in virus ranges, 9 days into his bout of COVID-19.
“The power to clear the virus after it is suppressed could also be completely different from Omicron to Delta, particularly for vaccinated individuals,” Charness advised the Related Press.
Within the authentic examine, virus ranges rose after 10 days in 1% to 2% in these taking both the drug or dummy tablets, Pfizer and the FDA have famous, the AP reported. That charge was about the identical amongst individuals taking the drug or dummy tablets, “so it’s unclear at this level that that is associated to drug remedy,” the FDA said, the AP mentioned.
One other doable clarification for uncommon circumstances of relapse amongst sufferers taking Paxlovid is that the dose is not robust sufficient to totally suppress the virus in all individuals, mentioned Andy Pekosz, a virologist at Johns Hopkins College in Baltimore. That might result in coronavirus mutations which are proof against the treatment, he mentioned.
“We should always actually be sure that we’re dosing Paxlovid appropriately as a result of I might hate to lose it proper now,” Pekosz advised the AP. “That is one of the important instruments we have now to assist us flip the nook on the pandemic.”
Extra data
Go to the Yale College of Drugs for extra on Paxlovid.
SOURCE: Related Press
By Robert Preidt and Robin Foster HealthDay Reporters
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