Soon in Cyprus, Pfizer's pill was approved by EMA

The arrival of Pfizer's antiviral tablet is expected in Cyprus soon, the Deputy Director of Pharmaceutical Services of the Ministry of Health, Dr. told KYPE. Elena Panayotopoulou, who stated that the specific pill called Paxlovid was approved on Thursday night by the Committee for Medicinal Products for Human Use (CHMP) of the EMA for early use.

According to Dr. Panagiotopoulou is the second antiviral pill for the treatment of the disease from Covid-19 in the light of the rapid spread of the Omicron mutation and the rising rates of infection and death due to the disease COVID-19, across the EU.

It is an antiviral pill, which according to the manufacturer, is up to 90% effective in preventing hospitalization and preventing deaths from coronavirus for patients belonging to high-risk groups, while according to the latest laboratory data, the drug maintains its effectiveness. and against the Homicron mutation.

Novavax is also approved on Monday

In addition, the Deputy Director of Pharmaceutical Services of the Ministry of Health told the Cyprus News Agency that next Monday is expected the approval of the Novavax vaccine by Coreper, also known as NVX-CoV2373.

Approval for use, not licensing

As clarified by Dr. Panagiotopoulou Paxlovid has not been licensed by Coreper, however, it has been approved under the emergency procedure for early use, in light of the rapid spread of the Homicron mutation and the increasing rates of infection and death due to the disease COVID-19, across the EU.

Dr. Panagiotopoulou also said that the Pfizer antiviral pill "will be a great innovation" and is a very promising new weapon in the fight against the pandemic, since it can be administered at home, at the beginning of the disease.

When and how it will be administered

Speaking to KYPE Dr. Panagiotopoulou stated that this particular pill consists of a combination of two substances, through the simultaneous taking of two pills, for five days.

He also said that it is suitable for the prevention of serious illness and death in people belonging to vulnerable groups, such as people with diabetes, hypertension, as well as obese people over 60 years.

Answering a relevant question, he said that it has excellent results, however, there are many contraindications, since there are, as he explained, many interactions in combination with other drugs.

He stressed that this pill can not be administered to pregnant and breastfeeding mothers.

Asked when Cyprus will receive it, Dr. Panagiotopoulou said that "Cyprus participates in the joint procurement process", however, noting that it is not yet known when he will come to Cyprus.

He added that the Ministry of Health will contact the manufacturing company directly and through the joint procurement process, as soon as the Pfizer pill is delivered to Europe, it will be supplied to Cyprus as well.

How Novavax is expected to work

Like other vaccines, Nuvaxovid is expected to prepare the body to defend itself against infection. The vaccine contains microscopic particles of a laboratory version of the protein found on the surface of SARS-CoV-2 (spike protein (S)).

It also contains an "adjuvant", a substance that helps boost the immune response to the vaccine.

When a person is given the vaccine, their immune system will recognize the protein particles as foreign and produce natural defenses - antibodies and T cells - against them.

If, later, the vaccinated person comes in contact with the SARS-CoV-2 virus, the immune system will recognize the spike protein in the virus and be ready for attack.

Antibodies and immune system cells can protect against disease COVID-19 killing the virus through synergy, preventing it from entering the body's cells and destroying infected cells.

(KYPE / ELA / AHR)