February 2, 2023 – A positive COVID-19 test isn't any longer required to be prescribed the antiviral drugs Paxlovid or Lagevrio.
The FDA announced the changes in letters to drug manufacturers on Wednesday. Pfizer And Merck.
Both drugs are approved for the treatment of mild to moderate COVID-19 in individuals with a high risk the event of a serious illness, e.g. as a consequence of old age or certain health problems. Paxlovid stays approved for patients aged 12 years and older; Lagevrio stays approved for patients aged 18 years and older.
Antiviral medications can stop the virus from replicating within the body, reducing an individual's overall viral load. This reduces the likelihood that the illness will cause more severe symptoms and potentially require hospitalization.
Patients take the medication, which is offered in tablet form, for five days as soon as possible after diagnosis. Studies show Paxlovid can reduce the likelihood of hospitalization by 46% and the likelihood of death by 65%. LagevrioStudies show a 30% reduction in hospital stays and even higher protection for people aged 75 and over.
In the letters, the FDA said it had replaced the requirement of a positive test with a current diagnosis of mild to moderate COVID-19 disease.