A new COVID-19 antiviral is on the horizon, but how does it fare?
The potential benefit in reducing severe outcomes remains unclear, says Professor Allen Cheng
A new oral antiviral might be more favourable than nirmatrelvir–ritonavir in shortening recovery times for at-risk adults with COVID-19, a study suggests.
The China-based phase III randomised trial found that the experimental drug, dubbed VV116, was at least as good as — if not better than — nirmatrelvir–ritonavir (Paxlovid) in reducing duration of illness but had fewer side effects and drug–drug interactions.
However, its effect on preventing serious illness and death remains unclear, says leading infectious diseases physician Professor Allen Cheng.
“It isn’t possible to say if VV116 is as good in reducing progression to severe disease,” he told Australian Doctor.
