In high-risk patients, this oral drug combination reduced hospitalization or death by almost 90%.
The oral antiviral nirmatrelvir inhibits a SARS-CoV-2 protease that is crucial for viral replication. It is given along with ritonavir, an HIV drug that boosts nirmatrelvir levels to a therapeutic range by inhibiting CYP3A4. Now, results of a manufacturer-sponsored trial that led the FDA to authorize nirmatrelvir/ritonavir (Paxlovid) have been published.
In this phase 2/3 clinical trial, 2246 nonhospitalized adults with COVID-19 and ≤5 days of symptoms were randomized to receive nirmatrelvir/ritonavir or placebo for 5 days. Participants had at least one risk factor for progression to severe COVID-19 and were not yet vaccinated for COVID-19. Among those treated within 5 days of symptom onset, hospitalization or death occurred in 0.77% (nirmat…
Reviewing Author
DisclosuresGrant/Research SupportNIH
Editorial BoardsUpToDate; ID Images (idimages.org); Infectious Diseases Society of America COVID-19 Treatment Guidelines; International Antiviral Society–USA (Guidelines Committee)
Leadership Positions in Professional SocietiesHIV Medicine Association; Infectious Diseases Society of America (Board of Directors)
DisclosuresGrant/Research SupportNIH
Editorial BoardsUpToDate; ID Images (idimages.org); Infectious Diseases Society of America COVID-19 Treatment Guidelines; International Antiviral Society–USA (Guidelines Committee)
Leadership Positions in Professional SocietiesHIV Medicine Association; Infectious Diseases Society of America (Board of Directors)