New preparation can now be used to treat coronavirus

The World Health Organization has recommended new preparation to treat patients at high risk for hospitalization due to coronavirus.

Produced under the Paxlovid brand, these preparations, nirmatrelvir and ritonavir, are effective in treating unvaccinated, elderly and immunocompromised people.

These antiviral preparations are intended for oral administration. They reduce the risk of hospitalization due to COVID-19 by 85%.

However, a study of 3,000 people found that patients who did not belong to the WHO high-risk group were better off not taking nirmatrelvir and ritonavir.