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Dr Gérald Kierzek (Medical Director of Doctissimo)
While the Covid epidemic is experiencing a resurgence in certain parts of the globe, the use of the new antiviral developed by Pfizer, Paxlovid, raises questions. Would it limit serious cases of the disease? Update with Dr Gérald Kierzek, emergency doctor and medical director of Doctissimo.
China, USA, South Africa… The Covid epidemic is experiencing a rebound in certain countries. The United States, which had initially limited access to Paxlovid, the antiviral developed by the Pfizer laboratory, prescribed it more, to limit serious forms to the most fragile patients.
Four times more used
Thus, last month, Paxlovid was “four times more used” in the United States, according to Dr Ashish Jha, the new health crisis coordinator at the White House. “I think that’s a big reason why, despite the sharp rise in infections, we haven’t seen a comparable rise in deaths. We’ve seen an increase in hospitalizations, but not as much as expected at this point. “.
For another senior American official, the pill “makes the difference” in combating the number of hospitalizations and deaths. In total, 20,000 Paxlovid prescriptions per day are made in the United States. As a reminder, this antiviral is taken orally for five days as soon as possible after the onset of symptoms.
An extension of the eligibility criteria
Paxlovid helps to slow down the replication of the virus, ie its multiplication in the body. It is this mechanism that slows down the disease. It is widely prescribed in the United States to anyone at risk of a serious form, in particular the elderly and those suffering from obesity.
In some cases, after five days of treatment, patients fall ill again and test positive for Covid again. “A possible initiation of clinical trials is under study to estimate the need for prolonged treatment.” according to Anthony Fauci, adviser to the White House.
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“It’s not the miracle drug”
For Dr Gérald Kierzek, emergency doctor and medical director of Doctissimo, the Paxlovid “is not the miracle drug“against Covid.
“It is normal for people to want to protect themselves, when we know that there is an upsurge in cases, that the vaccine does not protect against transmission and that the indications for prescribing this anti-viral are extended. But before prescribing a drug, it is important to make sure of the risk-benefit balance. We are dealing with relatively mild variants, at the moment, it would be silly to have a side effect of medication more serious than the potential effects of Covid” concludes Dr Gérald Kierzek.