Should PAXLOVID be given preventively?

post by ChristianKl · 2021-11-27T16:51:54.947Z · LW · GW · 1 comment

This is a question post.

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    14 delton137
    4 korin43
    -13 mobius
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An effective antiviral against COVID-19 seems to have a potential to end the pandemic if we give it to the whole population. Has anyone evaluated whether PAXLOVID has the potential to do the job? How is the side effect profile when thinking about giving it preventively? 

Answers

answer by delton137 · 2021-11-29T04:10:54.024Z · LW(p) · GW(p)

Note: Pfizer started a trial in September to try to answer this question.  We may know answer in a few months. In theory I don't see why it wouldn't work but with limited supply there's probably better uses at least in the next few months. 

Also, note the initial EUA application is asking it be approved for high-risk patients only, probably because Pfizer was told by FDA it wouldn't be EUA'd otherwise. 

Paxlovid must be taken with Ritonavir (otherwise Paxlovid breaks down to fast) which messes with liver enzymes and isn't a good choice for many (potential for many drug-drug interactions). People from the pro-Ivermectin crowd on Twitter have been complaining about how Ritonavir has a pretty heavy side effect profile. I haven't researched it at all but did take a quick look at the FDA Drug Facts sheet and apparently 57% get nausea, which doesn't sound good. 

answer by Brendan Long (korin43) · 2021-11-27T17:37:43.730Z · LW(p) · GW(p)

I don't think we have nearly enough supply to do that anytime soon, especially if we wanted to do it continuously.

answer by mobius · 2021-11-27T17:28:36.703Z · LW(p) · GW(p)

Heh, are you volunteering?

↑ comment by ChristianKl · 2021-11-27T17:46:07.316Z · LW(p) · GW(p)

I'm not writing a question because I have my mind made up about whether it's a good idea, but because I think it's an important question about whether or not it's a good idea.

I think that too many COVID-19 related discussing are among people who have made their mind up/don't care about learning something new/thinking through the unknowns.

Replies from: mobius
↑ comment by mobius · 2021-12-23T16:28:03.139Z · LW(p) · GW(p)

Yes, but you need volunteers to answer it.

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comment by Yunxiang Zhu (yunxiang-zhu) · 2021-11-29T01:26:20.321Z · LW(p) · GW(p)

There's infected deer. Can you give them PAXLOVID?