The Federal Commission for the Protection against Sanitary Risks (Cofepris) authorized for emergency use against COVID-19, the paxlovid treatment of the pharmaceutical company Pfizer.
This is the second treatment approved for emergency use. The first drug authorized was molnupiravir.
In a statement, the commission detailed that the paxlovid treatment combines nirmatrelvir and ritonavir in tablet presentation, will be intended to treat adult patients with mild or moderate COVID-19 and at risk of complications.
The two components of paxlovid work together to reduce the rate of hospitalization and mortality from this virus by up to 88%.
The first, nirmatrelvir, inhibits a SARS-CoV-2 protein, preventing the virus from replicating; while the second, ritonavir, slows down the breakdown of the drug to help it stay in the body longer.
Cofepris authorizes for emergency controlled use paxlovid💊, oral treatment for #COVID19.
Remember: it does not replace the application of vaccines nor should it be used without a prescription.👇 https://t.co/7HSzNYwywx pic.twitter.com/15RjSHW9Z0
— COFEPRIS (@COFEPRIS) January 14, 2022
Its emergency use requires a medical prescription and has been authorized by regulatory agencies in the United States, United Kingdom, Spain and Korea, among others; while in countries such as Japan and Canada it is in the process of analysis.
This authorization for controlled emergency use is issued after technical analysis by specialized Cofepris personnel, who examined the scientific evidence presented by the pharmaceutical company Pfizer. In addition, previously, experts from the National Committee of Science, Technology and Innovation in Public Health of the National Council of Science and Technology (Conacyt), and the Committee of New Molecules of Cofepris, issued unanimous favorable opinions on paxlovid.
Cofepris insisted that this treatment does not replace authorized vaccines against COVID-19, and that it should not be used without medical indication.
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