Nirmatrelvir/ritonavir
Antiviral combination medication / From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Nirmatrelvir/ritonavir, sold under the brand name Paxlovid, is a co-packaged medication used as a treatment for COVID‑19.[7][11][10][17] It contains the antiviral medications nirmatrelvir and ritonavir and was developed by Pfizer.[7][10] Nirmatrelvir inhibits SARS-CoV-2 main protease, while ritonavir is a strong CYP3A inhibitor, slowing down nirmatrelvir metabolism and therefore boosting its effect.[10][18] It is taken by mouth.[10]
Combination of | |
---|---|
Nirmatrelvir | Antiviral drug |
Ritonavir | CYP3A inhibitor; Antiviral drug |
Clinical data | |
Trade names | Paxlovid |
AHFS/Drugs.com | Monograph |
MedlinePlus | a622005 |
License data | |
Pregnancy category | |
Routes of administration | By mouth |
ATC code | |
Legal status | |
Legal status | |
Identifiers | |
KEGG | |
ChEBI |
In unvaccinated high-risk people with COVID‑19, nirmatrelvir/ritonavir can reduce the risk of hospitalization or death by 88% if taken within five days of symptom onset.[19] People who take nirmatrelvir/ritonavir also test negative for COVID‑19 about two and a half days earlier than people who do not.[20] Side effects of nirmatrelvir/ritonavir include changes in sense of taste (dysgeusia), diarrhea, high blood pressure (hypertension), and muscle pain (myalgia).[10]
In December 2021, the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) granted nirmatrelvir/ritonavir emergency use authorization (EUA) to treat COVID‑19.[13][21] It was approved in the United Kingdom later that month,[22] and in the European Union and Canada in January 2022.[15][23][24] In May 2023, it was approved in the U.S. to treat mild to moderate COVID‑19 in adults who are at high risk for progression to severe COVID‑19, including hospitalization or death.[14][17] The FDA considers the combination to be a first-in-class medication.[25]