Since the rise of the COVID-19 pandemic in early 2020, medical researchers have scrambled to meet the demand for treatments and drugs that could save lives of those infected by the coronavirus.
The Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) have given the green light to two oral antiviral therapies, Paxlovid and Molnupiravir. Produced by Pfizer and Merck respectively, both are now currently available in Australia.
These drugs, when first approved in the US and UK in late November, were slated to cost upward of $1,000 for a course of treatment. Now that they have finally been approved for the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS), the drugs will cost around $40, reduced to $6.80 for concession-card holders.
What are Paxlovid and Malnupiravir?
The use of antivirals has seen success worldwide in preventing viruses such as HIV and hepatitis C from hijacking our cells. Paxlovid and Molnupiravir work no differently.
Paxlovid, developed by Pfizer, is administered as three tablets, taken together orally twice daily, for use no longer than five consecutive days. The active component nirmatrelvir restricts a SARS-CoC-2 protein from replicating, and ritonavir at the same time slows down nirmatrelvir’s breakdown to help it remain in the body for a longer period at higher concentrations.
Paxlovid is not recommended in patients with severe kidney or severe liver impairment.
Molnupiravir, developed by Merck, is administered as four tablets, taken together orally twice daily, also for use no longer than five consecutive days. Molnupiravir works similarly, in part by inhibiting the coronavirus from growing and spreading.
Perhaps however the reason they have not been as high-profile as vaccines is that antivirals can only be used in the early stages of infection and are not suitable for everyone. It’s essential to get tested as soon as you feel unwell or become aware of a potential exposure.
Most people can manage the coronavirus safely at home without the need for antivirals. They have however, like the booster shots, been recommended for vulnerable groups: those over the age of 70, those aged 50 years and older, with risk factors for severe disease, Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander people aged 30 years or older, with two or more risk factors for severe illness, those immunocompromised over the age of 18, and those who have tested positive to COVID-19, have symptoms but do not require hospitalisation, and are at higher risk of severe illness.
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