The NIH calls Paxlovid “the only highly effective oral anti viral” treatment available in its Covid treatment guidelines.
However, the NIH concedes Paxlovid ( a combination of ritonivir and nirmatrelvir) is not of any benefit in standard risk patients with Covid 19.
Also, Paxlovid , is associated with a “rebound ” effect in some patients despite apparent clearance of clinical symptoms. Tony Fauci ,four times jabbed , managed to still get infected with Covid 19. Fauci, therefore took his much touted Paxlovid, but landed up with a rebound infection, that was more severe than the previous one ( according to Fauci himself).
The third problem with Paxlovid is that it has serious interactions with other drugs; unfortunately just about every drug used in heart medicine has to be either stopped completely or dose adjusted. The list of drugs affected with Paxlovid includes antiplatelet drugs such as clopidogrel and ticagrelor, anti coagulants, statins, anti arrhythmic, anti hypertension medicines, and also heart failure medicines. There may be serious adverse effects if these drugs are not withheld or dose adjusted. Please check the NIH guidelines on Covid 19 treatment that is freely available on the internet.
I as a cardiologist would therefore not advise Paxlovid to my Covid 19 patients.
“Although ritonavir-boosted nirmatrelvir demonstrated a clinical benefit during the EPIC-HR trial, the benefits in unvaccinated patients who are at low risk of progression to severe disease or in vaccinated people who are at high risk for progression to severe disease are unclear. The EPIC-SR trial, which included both of these populations, found that ritonavir-boosted nirmatrelvir did not reduce the duration of symptoms and did not have a statistically significant effect on the risk of hospitalization or death compared to placebo, although the event rates were low.” NIH Covid 19 treatment guidelines ;page 191.
Pfizer is looking at a $ 22 billions annual business with Paxlovid.