- PF-07321332+ritonavir will be made available to those with
weakened immune systems from Thursday 10 February
- Innovative treatment reduced the risk of hospitalisation or
death by 88% in clinical trials
- The UK has procured more antivirals per head than any other
country in Europe with over 4.98m courses ordered so far
Thousands of the country’s most vulnerable will be able to access
the UK’s second ground-breaking antiviral – Pfizer’s
PF-07321332+ritonavir (Paxlovid®) – from Thursday 10 February,
the government has announced today.
Those at highest risk who test positive for the virus – for
example, people who are immunocompromised, cancer patients or
those with Down’s Syndrome – could access PF-07321332+ritonavir
directly. The antiviral molnupiravir and monoclonal antibody
sotrovimab are already being deployed to the highest risk
patients with nearly 10,000 patients being treated to date.
PF-07321332+ritonavir reduced the relative risk of
COVID-19-associated hospitalisation or death by 88% in those who
received treatment within five days of symptoms appearing –
meaning it could potentially save thousands of lives and help to
ease burdens on the NHS. This is a significant development for
those with compromised immune systems, for whom the vaccine can
be less effective.
The government, through the Antivirals Taskforce, has procured
4.98 million courses of antivirals – 2.75 million courses of
PF-07321332+ritonavir and 2.23 million courses of molnupiravir –
more per head than any other country in Europe.
The PANORAMIC study is currently open and deploying the antiviral
molnupiravir to patients. Anyone over the age of 50 or between 18
to 49 with certain underlying health conditions can sign up to
the study as soon as they receive a positive PCR or lateral flow
test result. They need to be experiencing COVID-19 symptoms that
began in the last five days to be eligible to enrol.
Further details on wider deployment – including potentially
through the PANORAMIC study run by the University of Oxford and
supported by the National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) -
will be set out in due course.
Health and Social Care Secretary said:
Our pharmaceutical defences are crucial as we learn to live with
COVID-19 and the UK is leading the way, especially when it comes
to the use of cutting-edge antivirals.
This is an important milestone – especially as Paxlovid® has been
shown in clinical trials to reduce the risk of hospitalisation or
death for vulnerable patients by 88%, meaning potentially
thousands of lives could be saved.
We will set out further details on access to the new antiviral
soon – until then, anyone who is eligible who tests positive for
COVID-19 and has symptoms should sign-up to the PANORAMIC trial
for the chance to receive our other antiviral, molnupiravir.
Those in the highest risk group have been informed by the NHS if
they have a condition that will make them eligible to receive
these treatments, should they test positive for COVID-19.
The eligible cohorts have been determined by an independent
expert group commissioned by the Department of Health and Social
Care and included in a clinical policy agreed by all four Chief
Medical Officers in the UK.
The UK Heath Security Agency (UKHSA) has sent priority PCR tests
to around 1.3 million people thus far to support rapid turnaround
of results so they can access the treatments as soon as possible
after symptoms begin.
Eligible patients who receive a positive test will be assessed
over the phone by an expert clinician from an NHS COVID Medicines
Delivery Unit (CMDU), who will review and discuss with the
patient what the most appropriate treatment would be for them.
Those being prescribed a monoclonal antibody treatment will be
invited to attend the CMDU, while those receiving
PF-07321332+ritonavir can either get someone to collect it for
them or have it delivered to their home. The NHS has been setting
up CMDUs since the summer.
NHS National Medical Director Professor Stephen Powis said:
It is fantastic news that this new treatment, the latest
cutting-edge drug that the NHS is rolling out through new
COVID-19 medicine delivery units, will now be available to help
those at highest risk of COVID-19.
Trials have shown it can reduce hospitalisation and risk of death
by 88%, meaning we’ll be in the best position to save thousands
of lives.
While it will still be up to clinicians to decide on a
case-by-case basis whether this treatment, or indeed other
COVID-19 medicines, is the best choice for their patients, it is
an important step in our fight back against COVID-19.
Chair of the Antivirals Taskforce Eddie Gray said:
The UK has secured millions of doses of antivirals for NHS
patients, so we can keep the most vulnerable safe from the virus.
This is a promising development in deployment of these
treatments. The Taskforce will continue our work to identify the
world’s best antiviral treatments for UK patients.
Remdesivir will also be rolled out through this route – a
broad-spectrum antiviral administered through a drip.
PF-07321332+ritonavir was approved by the Medicines and
Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) in December 2021.
