Explained: Covid-19 Anti-Viral Pills As World Braces For Omicron Storm

While the US has given emergency approval to Pfizer's Paxlovid and Merck's Molnupiravir, the European Medicines Agency (EMA) has authorised Xevudy, Kineret and Paxlovid for treating Covid patients.

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New Delhi: As the world battles the contagious Omicron variant of Covid-19, four pills have received authorisation for treatment of the coronavirus patients in the US and Europe.

While the US has given emergency approval to Pfizer's Paxlovid and Merck's Molnupiravir, the European Medicines Agency (EMA) has authorised Xevudy, Kineret and Paxlovid for treating Covid patients.

These are the four pills recommended for the Covid-19 patients amid fears of a fourth wave of the virus.

Xevudy: Xevudy, according to the EMA, significantly reduces hospitalization and deaths in patients with one underlying condition. Jointly developed by UK pharma giant GlaxoSmithKline and US firm Vir Biotechnology, Xevudy has been recommended for treating Covid-19 in adults and adolescents (from 12 years of age and weighing at least 40 kilograms) who do not require supplemental oxygen and who are at increased risk of the disease becoming severe.

Xevudy, the third monoclonal antibody recommended in the European Union (EU) for treating Covid-19, follows the approval of Regkirona and Ronapreve earlier in November.

Kineret: Currently used by the EU nations for the treatment of various inflammatory conditions, Kineret is an immunosuppressive medicine and reduces the activity of the immune system. Kineret, manufactured by Stockholm-based Swedish Orphan Biovitrum, could “decrease lower airway damage, preventing development of severe respiratory failure”, according to the EMA.

Paxlovid: The top EU medicines regulator has also authorised Pfizer’s Covid-19 pill Paxlovid for emergency use. This pill can be used to treat adults with Covid-19 who “do not require supplemental oxygen and who are increased risk of progressing to severe disease”. Paxlovid has been recommended for use in both high-risk adults and high-risk pediatric patients 12 years of age and older, weighing at least 40 kg.

Molnupiravir: Merck & Co.’s Covid-19 pill Molnupiravir has also received emergency authorisation. Developed by Merck with partner Ridgeback Biotherapeutics LP, this drug is intended to be used at home to treat Covid in the people 18 and older at risk of developing severe illness. Molnupiravir has, however, not been recommended for use in pregnant people. This drug, according to a study, reduced the risk of hospitalisation or death among adults with mild to moderate disease by 30%.