Paxlovid, Pfizer’s COVID-19 antiviral pill, has been shown to prevent severe COVID-19 and death. An online post alleging the drug is a “fraud” and “should be taken off the market” neglects to mention this important information, and falsely says ivermectin is superior.
A randomized controlled trial and real-world studies have found that for certain patients, Paxlovid, Pfizer’s COVID-19 antiviral pill, reduces the risk of COVID-19 and death.
The Food and Drug Administration authorized the drug for outpatients “at high risk for progression to severe COVID-19” last December, based on a randomized controlled trial that found the medication to be about 88% effective in preventing hospitalization and death in unvaccinated, high-risk adults with COVID-19.
High-risk people with mild to moderate COVID-19 are eligible to take a five-day course of Paxlovid, as long as they start the pills within five days of symptom onset. Paxlovid consists of two sets of tablets that are taken together: nirmatrelvir, a new protease inhibitor that prevents replication of the coronavirus, and ritonavir, an existing drug that boosts levels of nirmatrelvir in the blood.
Several observational studies have subsequently found that Paxlovid is effective in the real world, particularly for older, high-risk people and those who are unvaccinated, but also for some vaccinated people.
An online post being shared on social media, however, claims that the drug is a “fraud” and “should be...
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