UK to distribute anti-Covid Pfizer drug from February
Trials have shown it can reduce hospitalisation and risk of death by 88%, and NHS official says
28 January 2022 - 16:25
by Alistair Smout
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A Pfizer employee checks the boxes containing Paxlovid, Covid-19 treatment pills, at a distribution facility in Memphis, Tennessee, US in this undated handout picture. File picture: PFIZER/HANDOUT VIA REUTERS.
London — Britain will start rolling out Pfizer’s Covid-19 treatment pill to vulnerable people in February, the health ministry said on Friday, targeting the treatment at people with compromised immune systems for whom the vaccine could be less effective.
The health ministry said that Pfizer's antiviral treatment Paxlovid, a combination of Pfizer’s pill with an older antiviral, ritonavir, would be made available to thousands of people from February 10.
"It is fantastic news that this new treatment, the latest cutting-edge drug that the NHS is rolling out through new Covid-19 medicine delivery units, will now be available to help those at highest risk of Covid-19," National Health Service (NHS) medical director Stephen Powis said.
"Trials have shown it can reduce hospitalisation and risk of death by 88%, meaning we'll be in the best position to save thousands of lives."
Britain has ordered 2.75-million courses of Paxlovid, and the government said that it would set out further details on access to the treatment soon but that people who are immunocompromised, cancer patients or those with Down’s Syndrome could be able to access it directly.
It is the second antiviral being rolled out in Britain after molnupiravir, a pill made by Merck and Ridgeback Biotherapeutics, which is being deployed to patients through the Panoramic trial.
Support our award-winning journalism. The Premium package (digital only) is R30 for the first month and thereafter you pay R129 p/m now ad-free for all subscribers.
UK to distribute anti-Covid Pfizer drug from February
Trials have shown it can reduce hospitalisation and risk of death by 88%, and NHS official says
London — Britain will start rolling out Pfizer’s Covid-19 treatment pill to vulnerable people in February, the health ministry said on Friday, targeting the treatment at people with compromised immune systems for whom the vaccine could be less effective.
The health ministry said that Pfizer's antiviral treatment Paxlovid, a combination of Pfizer’s pill with an older antiviral, ritonavir, would be made available to thousands of people from February 10.
"It is fantastic news that this new treatment, the latest cutting-edge drug that the NHS is rolling out through new Covid-19 medicine delivery units, will now be available to help those at highest risk of Covid-19," National Health Service (NHS) medical director Stephen Powis said.
"Trials have shown it can reduce hospitalisation and risk of death by 88%, meaning we'll be in the best position to save thousands of lives."
Britain has ordered 2.75-million courses of Paxlovid, and the government said that it would set out further details on access to the treatment soon but that people who are immunocompromised, cancer patients or those with Down’s Syndrome could be able to access it directly.
It is the second antiviral being rolled out in Britain after molnupiravir, a pill made by Merck and Ridgeback Biotherapeutics, which is being deployed to patients through the Panoramic trial.
Reuters
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