Britain plans to have antivirals available over the winter to battle omicron, according to the Antiviral Taskforce Chair. Merck’s oral antiviral has proven less effective than previously thought, down to 30% effectiveness, down from its claimed 50% effectiveness. Pfizer’s antiviral hasn’t been approved by the UK yet.
Britain expects to have antiviral COVID-19 pills produced by Merck & Co Inc and Pfizer available over the winter, its Antiviral Taskforce Chair said on Thursday, as Omicron continues its lightning advance through the country.
Eddie Gray told reporters he expected both Merck’s molnupiravir and Pfizer’s paxlovid treatments to be available throughout the winter period, which he defined as between now and the end of March. Britain has yet to approve paxlovid.
(Reuters) -Britain expects to have antiviral COVID-19 pills produced by Merck & Co Inc and Pfizer available over the winter, its Antiviral Taskforce Chair said on Thursday, as Omicron continues its lightning advance through the country. Eddie...
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Britain approved the Pfizer oral antiviral.
Pfizer this month said Paxlovid showed near 90% efficacy in preventing hospitalisations and deaths in high-risk patients, and recent lab data suggests the drug retains its effectiveness against the fast spreading Omicron variant of the coronavirus.
Paxlovid is made of two active substances which come as two separate pills taken twice a day together for five days. Britain has secured more than 2.75 million courses of the antiviral treatment.
https://www.reuters.com/world/uk/britain-approves-pfizer-covid-19-pill-2021-12-31/
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