Antiviral medications may be used in COVID-19 patient:s at increased risk for severe disease progression.1, 2 The antiviral PAXLOVID® (nirmatrelvir [PF-07321332] / ritonavir) is the only oral COVID-19 therapy approved and recommended in Switzerland.2-4 The five-day treatment can be dispensed by all pharmacies on prescription and by self-dispensing physicians directly and should be used as soon as possible after a positive viral test for SARS-CoV-2.1-3
In the webcast, PD Dominique Braun, MD, senior physician with expanded responsibilities at the Department of Infectious Diseases and Hospital Hygiene at University Hospital Zurich, presents antiviral therapy for COVID-19 in Switzerland, and Prof. Catia Marzolini, pharmacologist at the Universities of Liverpool and Basel and scientific director of the COVID-19 drug interaction checker5, indicates what you should be aware of regarding drug interactions with PAXLOVID®.
References
1. Federal Office of Public Health FOPH, Coordination of Supply of Covid 19 Essential Medicines, https://www.bag.admin.ch/bag/de/home/krankheiten/ausbrueche-epidemien-pandemien/aktuelle-ausbrueche-epidemien/novel-cov/information-fuer-die-aerzteschaft/covid19_vo_2.html, last accessed Feb. 20 , 2023.
2. Swiss Society of Infectious Diseases (SSI). Recommendations on early use of covid-19 therapies and prophylaxis prepared by the Swiss Society of Infectious Diseases (SSI), Feb 06, 2023 https://www.bag.admin.ch/bag/de/home/krankheiten/ausbrueche-epidemien-pandemien/aktuelle-ausbrueche-epidemien/novel-cov/information-fuer-die-aerzteschaft/covid19_vo_2.html, last accessed Feb 20, 2023.
3. PAXLOVID® (nirmatrelvir [PF-07321332] and ritonavir): current product information available at www.swissmedicinfo.ch.
4. list of approved drugs in Switzerland https://www.swissmedic.ch/swissmedic/de/home/services/listen_neu.html, last accessed 20.02.2023.
5. COVID-19 Drug Interactions, https://www.covid19-druginteractions.org/, last accessed 04/26/2023.
The references are available on request.
The abbreviated technical information on PAXLOVID®
The current technical information of PAXLOVID® can be found at www.swissmedicinfo.ch.
▼ This medicinal product is subject to additional monitoring. For further information, please see the PAXLOVID® expert/patient information leaflet at www.swissmedicinfo.ch.
Responsible for the content and financed by: Pfizer AG, Schärenmoosstrasse 99, 8052 Zurich
PP-PAX-CHE-0240 April 2023
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