The Federal Commission for the Protection against Sanitary Risks (Cofepris), authorized this Friday for emergency use the Paxlovid treatment, developed by pharmaceutical company Pfizer. The drug, which combines nirmatrelvir and ritonavir in tablet presentation, will be used to treat adult patients suffering from mild or moderate covid-19 and at risk of complications. "The authorization for emergency use is issued in a controlled manner and requires a medical prescription, considering the use and risk factors detailed in the authorization letter to avoid misuse of this medicine, self-medication or its irregular sale," the regulatory body has detailed. .
The head of Cofepris, Alejandro Svarch Pérez, explained that this approval represents a new tool in the strategy to combat covid-19 that, together with vaccination and protection measures, create a triangle to close the passage to the coronavirus.
This medicine has already been authorized by regulatory agencies in the United States, United Kingdom, Spain and Korea, among others;
while in countries like Japan and Canada it is in the process of being analyzed.
The first treatment that Mexico authorized for emergency use against covid-19 was the combination of the drugs bamlanivimab and etesevimab, in injectable solution, while in March the use of the controversial drug remdesivir was authorized in early cases of covid-19 .
Cofepris authorizes for controlled emergency use paxlovid 💊, oral treatment for #COVID19.
Remember: it does not replace the application of vaccines nor should it be used without a medical prescription.👇 https://t.co/7HSzNYwywx pic.twitter.com/15RjSHW9Z0
– COFEPRIS (@COFEPRIS) January 14, 2022
According to the agency, the components of Paxlovid work together to reduce the rate of hospitalization and mortality due to this virus by up to 88%.
The first, nirmatrelvir, inhibits a SARS-CoV-2 protein, stopping the virus from replicating, while the second, ritonavir, slows the breakdown of the drug to help it stay in the body longer.
The approval of this drug comes amid an escalation in covid-19 infections.
Since the pandemic began to date, there have been 4.2 million infected and more than 300,000 deaths.
As of this Thursday, 115 hospitals report 100% occupancy in general beds and 47 health centers register less than 40% availability.
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