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Pharmaceutical company Pfizer Inc. announced Wednesday that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration has approved the emergency use of its antiviral drug Covid 19.
This is the first treatment that can be taken at home and is expected to become an important tool in the fight against the rapid spread of the Omicron variant.
Pfizer clinical trials showed that a drug called Paxlovid was 90% effective in preventing hospitalization and death in patients at high risk of being severely affected by the disease. Recent laboratory data suggest that the drug retains its effectiveness against the Omicron variant.
The agency said it authorized the drug, for the treatment of mild and moderate cases of the disease for persons aged 12 and over, who are at high risk of being affected by severe forms of the disease.
The drug is only prescribed and treatment should be started as soon as possible after being diagnosed with COVID-19 or within five days of the onset of symptoms, the agency said.
Another oral medication from Merck & Co, which is still under review by the FDA, has shown lower efficacy compared to Pfizer. According to the data, Merck’s drug, Molnupiravir, reduced hospitalizations and deaths in high-risk patients by about 30 %./VOA
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