Another potential long COVID treatment ruled out A COVID-19 antiviral has been shown to be ineffective at treating the condition, as doctors continue to be left with few options.
Study questions Paxlovid’s COVID-19 ‘usefulness’ Researchers say the antiviral does little to reduce symptom duration for some vaccinated patients, but still recommended its use for the vulnerable.
Tighten Paxlovid eligibility: PBAC advice The committee that looks at PBS listings has recommended the first-line COVID-19 treatment be limited to the highest risk patients aged 50–69 years.
PBAC recommends Paxlovid eligibility change The advice, which is yet to be put in place by the Department of Health and Aged Care, will expand eligibility to people aged 50–59.
Wider eligibility for Paxlovid announced From 1 April the availability of the oral antiviral on the PBS will expand to include over-60s with only one risk factor for severe disease.
New antiviral may offer ‘less cumbersome’ COVID treatment option The Chinese-developed oral antiviral reportedly achieves similar outcomes to Paxlovid, but with fewer side effects and drug–drug interactions.
GPs urged to not dismiss molnupiravir entirely While guidelines say the drug should be only prescribed as a ‘last resort’, there are concerns this could deter GPs from prescribing the treatment altogether.
Molnupiravir to be used only as a last resort: Taskforce Advice has changed for the country’s most prescribed COVID-19 oral antiviral, although access via the PBS will remain in place.
Push to allow pharmacist prescribing of antivirals flipped on its head A ‘more sensible approach’ would see the lifesaving medications added to the Doctor’s Bag, a prominent GP has said.
Could anticipatory deprescribing allow better COVID treatment? Despite being more effective according to some studies, Paxlovid prescriptions lag Lagevrio, with drug–drug interactions likely to play a part.