Category: COVID Therapies
(FDA) FDA is closely monitoring the emergence of the XBB.1.5 subvariant, a SARS-CoV-2 Omicron variant that is currently estimated to account for 28% of circulating variants in the U.S. Because of its similarity to variants that are not neutralized by Evusheld (e.g., XBB), FDA does not anticipate that Evusheld will neutralize XBB.1.5. This means that Evusheld may […]
Jan 9, 2023
HHS Increases Access to Tamiflu through the Strategic National Stockpile
(HHS) Tthe U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), through the Administration for Strategic Preparedness and Response (ASPR), announced that they are making additional supply of Tamiflu available to jurisdictions to respond to an increased demand for the antiviral during this flu season, including through the Strategic National Stockpile (SNS). Jurisdictions will work with […]
Dec 27, 2022
COVID-19 Viral Rebound Occurs With Molnupiravir, No Antivirals
(US Pharmacist) Viral rebound sometimes occurs after treatment with Paxlovid (nirmatrelvir; ritonavir) for the treatment of COVID-19. Apparently, viral rebound also occurs with molnupiravir but not very commonly, according to a new study. Researchers from the Chinese University of Hong Kong sought to examine the incidence of viral rebound in patients with COVID-19 who were […]
Dec 13, 2022
Covid Rebound with Pfizer’s Paxlovid Less Than Expected
(Bloomberg) On the (Paxlovid) rebound, Pfizer Inc.’s antiviral medication caused recurrences or prolonged infections more often in real life than in clinical studies. (A rebound of coronavirus occurred in 2.3% of patients on Paxlovid versus 1.7% receiving placebo in a late-stage trial, Pfizer scientists said in September.)
Dec 6, 2022
Coronavirus variants are dodging antibody treatments. New lab-made options may help.
(Washington Post) In the evolutionary chess match between the coronavirus and humans, scientists’ next move can’t come soon enough for the millions of Americans relying on treatments known as monoclonal antibodies. These lab-made therapies are rapidly losing their healing power, forcing researchers around the world to devise new antibodies that are both more potent and […]
Nov 22, 2022
Monoclonal Antibodies May No Longer Be a Match for Emerging COVID Strains
(MedPageToday) Evusheld, bebtelovimab losing potency as circulation of BQ.1, BQ.1.1 grows. Tixagevimab/cilgavimab (Evusheld) and bebtelovimab are likely ineffective against approximately 60% of currently circulating Omicron variants, creating a big gap in protection, particularly for immunocompromised individuals, researchers from a Harvard Medical School-led consortium said at a briefing on late last week.
Nov 21, 2022
Paxlovid rebound more common than initially thought, doctors say
(ABC News) Six months ago, Dr. Joseph Boselli said he was prescribing the antiviral drug Paxlovid to nearly everyone who turned up at his practice with COVID. Now, the internal medicine physician at Jefferson Health in Philadelphia said he’s reserving it mostly for people who are 60-plus, with serious health problems, or who aren’t up-to-date on their […]
Nov 10, 2022
New VA study finds Paxlovid may cut the risk of long COVID
(NPR) It’s well-documented that Paxlovid — a 5-day course of antiviral pills from Pfizer — can reduce the risk of hospitalization in COVID-19 patients who are more likely to develop severe illness. Now, researchers from the Veterans Health Administration find that taking the medication may also reduce the risks of later developing long COVID, according […]
Nov 8, 2022
Pfizer’s Paxlovid Antiviral Lowered Long-Covid Risk in Study
(Bloomberg) Pfizer Inc.’s blockbuster Paxlovid antiviral that lowers rates of illness and death in people infected with the coronavirus also cuts the risk of some symptoms of disabling long Covid, a study found.Taking the oral medication within five days of testing positive for a SARS-CoV-2 infection was linked to a 26% lower risk of lingering […]
Nov 7, 2022
U.S. government to test Pfizer’s Paxlovid for long COVID
(Reuters) The U.S. National Institutes of Health’s $1 billion RECOVER Initiative has picked Pfizer Inc’s (PFE.N) antiviral drug Paxlovid as the first treatment it will study in patients with long COVID, organizers of the study said on Thursday. The complex medical condition involves more than 200 symptoms ranging from exhaustion and cognitive impairment to pain, fever and […]
Oct 28, 2022