BRIEF—EMA recommends conditional marketing authorization for Paxlovid

The European Medicines Agency’s human medicines committee (CHMP) has recommended granting a conditional marketing authorization for US pharma giant Pfizer’s oral antiviral Paxlovid (PF-07321332/ritonavir) for the treatment of COVID-19.

The Committee recommended authorizing Paxlovid for treating COVID-19 in adults who do not require supplemental oxygen and who are at increased risk of the disease becoming severe.

Paxlovid is the first antiviral medicine to be given by mouth that is recommended in the European Union for treating COVID-19.

It contains two active substances, PF-07321332 and ritonavir, in two different tablets.

PF-07321332 works by reducing the ability of SARS-CoV-2 (the virus that causes COVID-19) to multiply in the body while ritonavir prolongs the action of PF-07321332 enabling it to remain longer in the body at levels that affect the multiplication of the virus.