Paxlovid, a drug from Pfizer, has been approved by the UK for use in vulnerable adults who have been exposed to Covid-19.
The oral treatment was found to be safe and effective at reducing the risk of hospitalisation and death in people with mild to moderate Covid-19 infections who are at an increased risk of developing severe disease.
Paxlovid should be used within five days of a patient's first symptoms if it is taken during the early stages of a Covid infections. For patients aged 18 and over with at least one risk factor for developing severe illness, such as obesity or diabetes, the approval is for them.
June Raine, the MHRA's chief executive, said that there was a new medicine that could be taken by mouth. This means it can be administered outside of a hospital.
I hope the announcement gives reassurance to those who are vulnerable to Covid-19. This treatment could be life-saving for these individuals.
