The first 10,000 doses of Paxlovid, the antiviral treatment marketed by the Pfizer laboratory to fight against Covid-19, were received on Tuesday in France. These 10,000 boxes will be delivered from this friday in pharmacies, the Ministry of Health said in a press release on Wednesday.
Treatment for people at risk
This treatment is only intended for immunocompromised or at-risk patients such as the elderly, who are not sufficiently protected with the vaccine, and on prescription from their doctor.
The HAS (High Health Authority) notes, however, that the antiviral is contraindicated in people with severe hepatic insufficiency or severe renal insufficiency. It also points to the significant risk of drug interactions when taking Paxlovid for patients taking another treatment.
The drug may be prescribed by general practitioners and be sold in all pharmacies. This pill is taken orally as two tablets per day for five days.
What efficiency?
The results obtained during clinical trials show an 85.2% reduction in the occurrence of hospitalization or death for patients. Paxlovid is effective against Omicron.
500,000 doses in 2022 in France
The High Authority for Health (HAS) gave the green light to the marketing of Paxlovid ten days ago. “We have reserved 500,000 doses in 2022 and the first deliveries – a few thousand doses – are expected in a week.“, had specified at the time the entourage of the Minister of Health Olivier Véran to AFP.
France is the first country in the European Union to make this medicine available.