Mexico City, Mexico — Mexico health authorities have approved a second oral treatment against Covid-19. On Friday, the Federal Commission for the Protection against Sanitary Risks (Cofepris) announced the authorized emergency use of Paxlovid by Pfizer.
The oral treatment has been approved to treat adult patients with mild or moderate Covid-19 symptoms.
“The authorization for emergency use is issued in a controlled manner and requires a medical prescription considering the use and risk factors detailed in the authorization letter to avoid misuse of this medication, self-medication and/or its irregular sale,” Cofepris reported.
The drug combines nirmatrelvir and ritonavir which work together to reduce hospitalization and mortality rates by up to 88 percent. The first, nirmatrelvir, inhibits a SARS-CoV-2 protein, preventing the virus from replicating, while the second, ritonavir, slows the breakdown of the drug to help it stay in the body longer.
On January 7, Cofepris approved Molnupiravir, which will also be used to treat patients with mild or moderate Covid-19 symptoms.
In late January, Paxlovid was approved for emergency use in the United States. At the time of its approval, Pfizer said that the FDA had not approved its oral treatment, but would allow it to be used for emergency use in people aged 12 and older.
Canada has not yet made a decision on whether or not to approve the Paxlovid or Molnupiravir oral treatments for emergency use. The U.S. approved Molnupiravir for emergency use in late December.
