The U.S. Drug Administration Approves Emergency Use of the First Oral Covid-19 Antiviral Medicine

Xinhua News Agency, Washington, December 22 (Reporter Tan Jingjing) On the 22nd, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration approved the first oral drug that can be used urgently to treat COVID-19 infections in adults and children aged 12 and older who have mild to moderate COVID-19 illnesses, as well as those at higher risk of severe illness.

The US Drug Administration said in a statement that the oral COVID-19 antiviral medicine by Pfizer is called Paxlovid and consists of two antiviral drugs. Patients must take it as soon as possible after the diagnosis of the new crown, and start taking it within 5 days after the appearance of the new crown symptoms, and the continuous use time cannot exceed 5 days.

The statement said that after evaluating all available scientific evidence, the US Drug Administration believes that Paxlovid may be effective in the treatment of patients with mild to moderate COVID-19, and its known and potential benefits exceed its known and potential risks. Common side effects of this drug may include impaired taste, diarrhea, high blood pressure, and muscle aches.

Cavazzoni, director of the Center for Drug Evaluation and Research of the US Drug Administration, said that with the emergence of new mutant strains, the prevention and control of the COVID-19 epidemic has entered a critical stage, and the emergency authorization to use this oral drug provides a new tool to combat the COVID-19.

Source: Xinhua News Agency