‘Exciting’: Antiviral shows promise in reducing long COVID symptoms

US researchers say nirmatrelvir/ritonavir can reduce the risk of post-acute death and hospitalisations at 90 days
Professor Robert Booy.

A leading infectious diseases expert is cautiously optimistic that nirmatrelvir/ritonavir can reduce the risk of long-term health outcomes in patients with COVID-19. 

A pre-print study involving some 56,000 US veterans infected with SARS-CoV-2 found the antiviral combination cuts the risk of post-acute death and hospitalisations by 48% and 30%, respectively, versus controls. 

Nirmatrelvir/ritonavir (Paxlovid) was also associated with a 26% reduced likelihood of long COVID symptoms regardless of prior infection or vaccination status, researchers said. 

The absolute risk reduction was 2.3 per 100 persons at three months.