USA: FDA approved another drug against corona | Israel Today

The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) today (Thursday) approved Merck's corona drug for use in high-risk adults. 

The drug, which is intended for use among infected people up to three days after the onset of symptoms, reduces, according to experiments conducted by the company, the percentage of hospitalized and dead by 30 percent. 

The company claims that the drug, which has been given the name Molonfirvir, is equally effective against the new Omicron variant.

According to FDA approval, the drug will be given to patients in the first days of contracting the disease, and for them other treatment or vaccine is not available or possible. 

Yesterday the FDA approved an emergency approval for Pfizer's drug for Corona.

The Ministry of Health is in negotiations with the pharmaceutical company to reserve an order for the new drug, but an agreement has not yet been signed. Pfizer reported last week that laboratory tests showed that its antiviral pill is also effective against the Omicron variant. 

According to Pfizer, the pill is 89% effective in preventing death and serious illness in adults, while reducing the risk of hospitalization.

Also, in the study population no deaths and abnormalities were reported as a result of receiving the pill.

Will the pill be used by patients who are not at risk?

The pill will be used in combination with an old antiviral drug called Ritonavir and is intended for patients at risk.

The combined treatment, will be called Paxlovid and will consist of three pills given twice a day.

Pfizer examined hospitalizations and deaths among people diagnosed with coronavirus with at least one risk factor for developing a serious illness, such as old age.

Were we wrong?

Fixed!

If you found an error in the article, we'll be happy for you to share it with us