Coronavirus: Anti Covid pill to be available in Cyprus soon

Pfizer’s anti-Covid pill Paxlovid will soon be available in Cyprus, deputy director of the pharmaceutical services Elena Panayiotopoulou said on Friday, after the EU drugs regulator approved its early use.

According to Panayiotopoulou, this is the second antiviral drug the European Medicines Agency has approved for emergency use in light of the rapid spread of Omicron variant, increasing rates of infection and fatalities due to Covid-19 across the European Union.

In November, the EU regulator took similar action with Merck’s molnupiravir antibody-based pill. It advised it should be given within five days of first symptoms to treat adults who do not need oxygen support and are at risk of their disease worsening.

On Thursday evening, the agency also adviced that Euroepan Union countries can use Pfizer’s antiviral Covid-19 pill Paxlovid early after diagnosis of an infection even though its full review for regulatory approval has not been completed.

Patients at risk of suffering severe forms of the infection should start the five-day course of Paxlovid as soon as possible after diagnosis or within five days of the onset of symptoms but not when supplemental oxygen is already required.

“The Agency’s advice can now be used to support national recommendations on the possible use of the medicine before marketing authorisation,” the European Medicines Agency (EMA) said in a statement.

Meanwhile, data released this week showed Pfizer’s pill was nearly 90 per cent effective in preventing hospitalisations and deaths in high-risk patients, and recent lab data suggests the drug retains its effectiveness against the fast spreading Omicron.

The EU is still in talks to buy the Merck and Pfizer drugs. It is not clear when, or if, the European Commission will launch joint procurements for these drugs and how many states will buy supplies through the EU scheme or individually.