Joe Biden has COVID-19 again and is using Paxlovid, the Pfizer medication that has been widely used in the treatment of COVID symptoms since 2021.
The reassurance that the president, who is at increased risk of complications due to his age, is already being treated was a comfort to some. To others, however, the ease with which Biden was able to access COVID treatment and medications struck a cord as some Americans have struggled to get their hands on the drug since Pfizer began charging $1,400 for it in November.
Critics on social media pointed out that the average American may not have such expedited access to Paxlovid or other popular COVID treatments.
Biden’s public endorsement of the drug has also led to a resurgence of interest in it − and some recent studies that found it may not be as effective across all populations as we originally thought.
Here are the basics of what to know about Paxlovid.
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What is Paxlovid?
Paxlovid is the name of a drug manufactured by Pfizer that is used in the treatment of COVID-19. It is a combination of two drugs called ritonavir and nirmatrelvir.
Nirmatrelvir is a protease inhibitor that stops the SARS-CoV-2 virus from replicating while ritonavir boosts the activity of nirmatrelvir. It is given in a five-day course with three pills taken twice a day and is meant to be taken within five days of testing positive for COVID-19.
The purpose of Paxlovid is to lessen the severity of symptoms and prevent severe illness, hospitalization and/or death.
Is Paxlovid FDA approved?
Yes, Paxlovid was officially approved by the FDA in May 2023 for treating “mild-to-moderate COVID-19 in adults who are at high risk for progression to severe COVID-19, including hospitalization or death.”
Before this, in December 2021, it was approved for emergency treatment of adults and pediatric patients over 12 years of age via emergency use authorization.
How much does Paxlovid cost? Does insurance cover it?
Paxlovid was distributed for free via the Biden administration until late November 2023, when it transferred over to the commercial market. The initial reported price set by Pfizer was $1,390 for one course, though depending on the pharmacy it can now cost upward of $1,500.
The Department of Health and Human Services and Pfizer rolled out patient assistance programs to provide Paxlovid for free through Medicare and Medicaid until at least the end of 2024. Those without insurance can get it for free through 2028.
Insurance coverage has become trickier for some as more time has elapsed since the beginning of the pandemic. Some people have reported copays as high as $1,000 or insurers who refuse to cover it entirely. This inconsistency has led some to express concern that despite ample supply, the drug will not be used as widely as it could be were cost not a barrier.
Is Paxlovid effective?
Paxlovid has been found to be useful, but only for a select group: those who are unvaccinated and those at high risk for severe disease because of advanced age or health conditions. The treatment has been found to be less effective for people who would be expected to have a mild case of COVID-19.
Some recent studies have suggested Paxlovid may not lower the risk of long-term COVID for vaccinated, non-hospitalized people during their first COVID-19 infection or help them recover faster.
However, when the Antimicrobial Drugs Advisory Committee recommended FDA approval of the drug, the agency heard that data showed Paxlovid reduced the risk of hospitalization and death bymore than 80% in high-risk adults who had a previous bout of COVID-19 or never had the disease, and had a 58% reduced risk in those who were vaccinated.
And a January study by the National Institutes of Health also found that 15% of the 1 million participants infected with COVID-19 took Paxlovid and of those, the medication reduced the risk of death by 73% and hospitalizations dropped 26%.
What is Paxlovid rebound?
“Rebound” is also a frequent discussion around the drug − testing positive for COVID-19 or experiencing symptoms again two to eight days after recovery, though it also occurs in people with COVID-19 who don’t take the drug.
Studies on rebound are still scarce and inconclusive, with some showing that there may be an increased chance after taking Paxlovid and some saying otherwise. Official guidance from the National Institutes of Health, however, still says that the possibility of rebound is not ample reason to avoid taking Paxlovid if it is prescribed to you.
Contributing: Karen Weintraub, Adrianna Rodriguez, USA TODAY
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: What is Paxlovid? What to know about the COVID drug from Pfizer
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