Pfizer says the drug may be able to reduce burden on hospitals.
Who Is At High Risk for Severe COVID-19?
Now they’re making strides in COVID-19 treatment.
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The company is also developing an antiviral COVID-19 treatment that would be administered intravenously.
This option would be available for hospitalized patients.
The total regimen consists of 30 tablets, and is not authorized for use beyond five consecutive days.
Proteases are enzymes that play animportantrole in this process.
If it doesn’t chop its protein into smaller pieces, the proteins basically don’t work.
The most important protease to target when combating SARS-CoV-2 is called 3CL.
Paxlovid targets the 3CL protease by introducing new inhibitors into the body.
Some of these inhibitors against 3CL proteases have been given to animals," Chavez says.
“And those animals show rescue from diseaseit essentially saved their lives.”
Pfizer’s oral drug is the first drug available to treat COVID-19 at home.
How Might It Fare Against Variants?
But how will this drug fare against COVID-19 variants?
The oral drug deals with a different component of the viruss life cycle.
Additionally, stopping the 3CL protease seems to be effective at preventing viral replication beyond SARS-CoV-2.
Over time, viruses may recognize these inhibitors and evolve to become resistant to them.
For the most recent updates on COVID-19, visit ourcoronavirus news page.
2021;12(1):2016. doi:10.1038/s41467-021-22362-2
