Thursday, March 28, 2024

Timer

Health Canada approves Pfizer’s antiviral treatment for COVID-19

First Published:

Health Canada has approved Pfizer’s antiviral treatment for COVID-19.

According to Health Canada’s website, it has authorized PAXLOVID which is a combination of two antiviral drugs nirmatrelvir and ritonavir.

The treatment has been approved for adults with mild to moderate COVID-19 who are at high risk of progressing to serious disease, including hospitalization or death.

The active ingredient nirmatrelvir in PAXLOVID works by stopping the virus from replicating.

PAXLOVID is the first COVID-19 therapy that can be taken at home.

The drug is intended for use as soon as possible after diagnosis of COVID-19 and within five days of the start of symptoms.

The treatment consists of two tablets of nirmatrelvir and one tablet of ritonavir taken together by mouth twice per day for five days.

Health Canada says many medicines interact with PAXLOVID so users need to speak with a healthcare professional before taking the treatment.

Clinical trials show it was almost 90 per cent effective at preventing serious illness in higher-risk patients who received it within the first five days of being infected.

More Top News

Evening weather forecast for March 27, 2024

Shelly Marriage shares the forecast for March 27, 2024 and the days ahead.

Sister of man involved in Burlington hit-and-run speaks out

The sister of a man struck by a vehicle in a hit-and-run in Burlington on Sunday is speaking out. She says she's not sure if...

Horwath to veto council’s decision not to build affordable housing on Stoney Creek parking lots

Hamilton Mayor Andrea Horwath says she's using her "strong mayor" powers to veto city council's decision not to move forward with a plan to...

Niagara police identify 2 people found dead in St. Catharines home

Niagara police have released the identities of the two people found dead in a home in St. Catharines on Monday. Officers were called to 47...

Ontario international student permits to go to in-demand areas

Ontario will give the vast majority of its allocated international student study permits to post-secondary institutions that offer in-demand programs such as in the...

Sportsline: Hamilton Ticats all-star receiver Tim White on his World Vision trip to Asia

VIDEO: As a sibling of nine in Los Angeles, Tim White and his family lived through some hard times. So when the Hamilton Tiger-Cats...