Singapore has approved PAXLOVID Pfizer as the first pill drug for the treatment of Covid-19 with mild to moderate symptoms in high-risk adult patients, aimed at reducing the risk of hospitalization and death. The republic’s Health Sciences Authority (HSA) has given temporary permission for PAXLOVID, a combination of two drugs, nirmatrelvir (an antiviral drug) and ritonavir (to maintain blood levels of nirmatrelvir for antiviral effectiveness). As quoted by the Straits Times, the statement mentioned that,
“PAXLOVID should be taken twice daily for five days, and treatment should be started as soon as possible after the diagnosis is made, within five days of the onset of COVID-19 symptoms. It will be determined and given priority to those at high risk of severe COVID-19 disease, as directed by the Ministry of Health.”
Clinical data for the drug has been reviewed and it has been found to reduce Covid-19 related hospitalisation or death by 88.9 per cent when given within three days from the onset of symptoms. The efficacy rate was 87.8 per cent when given within five days of symptoms appearing. Lab studies have shown that the drug works against the Delta and Omicron variants.
The HSA also presented that safety data showed PAXLOVID is harmless and reports of adverse side effects in clinical studies were generally low. The approval was made under the Pandemic Special Access Route (PSAR) and in consultation with the HSA Medicines Advisory Committee.
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