As the coronavirus cases are increasing again in certain parts of the world, scientists from UK team up to conduct a trial and study the effectiveness of Pfizers oral COVID pill “Paxlovid” in reducing the risk of death among hospitalized patients with COVID-19 infection.

Paxlovid has already received approval in the country for the early-stage treatment of COVID-19 infection. The drug acts by inhibiting virus replication and is currently used to treat HIV, hepatitis C and other viruses.

The worlds largest randomized study of potential medicines for COVID-19 - the RECOVERY trial - will investigate the pill’s effect on survival of patients across hospitals in Britain. The trial would study the drug’s effect on the length of hospital stay and the need for a mechanical ventilator.  (Reuters, March 28, 2022)