Covid-19, the third leading cause of deaths in the US in 2021 1:26
Washington (CNN) --
The Biden administration has secured the purchase of 20 million treatments of Paxlovid, Pfizer's antiviral pill against covid-19, a senior administration official told CNN on Monday.
The government will work with the manufacturer to speed up production and delivery of the new drug to pharmacies across the country, the official told reporters.
Initially, 100,000 doses per quarter will be made available to pharmacies, while demand and uptake are monitored.
Paxlovid combines a new antiviral drug called nirmatrelvir and an older one called ritonavir, and is given as three pills twice a day for five days.
Data published by Pfizer late last year showed that the treatment reduced the risk of hospitalization or death by 89% if given to high-risk adults within days of first showing symptoms.
"Paxlovid was first authorized by the FDA at the end of December. And there were very, very few pills. The administration worked incredibly hard to ramp up both production and procurement, and the good news is that we've made really substantial progress." Dr. Ashish Jha, White House Covid-19 response coordinator, said Monday on NPR.
"Now we have to turn those pills into prescriptions and into things that patients can get so they can get better if they get infected. We've put a lot of effort into what we've been working on and launching, and we're going to do a lot more this week."
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Although the government has secured funding, the senior administration official warned Monday that without more funding from Congress, "we won't be able to buy more."
Pfizer claims its pill reduces risk of death 0:47
Another senior government official estimated that the use of covid-19 antiviral treatments, such as Paxlovid, has more than doubled in the last month and its consumption could increase as the drug becomes more accessible.
As a result, the administration will also announce Tuesday that it is expanding access to treatment for the nation's pharmacies through the government's federal antiviral pharmacy program, estimating that Americans will be able to order free antiviral treatment at more than 30,000 locations in the future. next.
Free covid-19 tests and prescriptions instantly
The "test-to-treat" initiative consists of "one-stop-shop" centers where free covid-19 tests are offered and, if the result is positive, free antiviral drugs can be prescribed on the spot.
Some US pharmacies, such as CVS, Walgreens, and Walmart, participate in the "test-to-treat" program in some locations.
According to a fact sheet shared with CNN, the government will increase the outreach of information about COVID-19 antiviral treatments to health care providers "with the goal of expanding knowledge and understanding of these treatments and to ensure that providers services advise their patients about these effective treatments, prescribe them when appropriate, and help patients identify where they can fill their prescription.
Pfizer begins phase 2 and 3 trial of the pill against covid-19 Paxlovid in children aged 6 to 17 years
Paxlovid is authorized for use under an FDA Emergency Use Authorization for the treatment of high-risk individuals 12 years of age and older, including patients with diabetes, cardiovascular disease, or obesity.
"What's important to note is that apparently it might seem like an extension to some people, because a lot of providers have that scarcity mentality in the beginning, when there were fewer... fewer courses available across the country and they were really saving this just for people who thought they would be the sickest of the sick," the second official said.
"And that's why the provider education component ... is so critical to work on - is to make sure that, across the country, in every community, providers know that we have packages available for their patients, because any of they are at high risk for progression of severe COVID-19."
Covid-19Paxlovid
