Israel approves the emergency use of Pfizer anti-COVID-19 oral drugs

Jerusalem, 26 Dec (Xinhua) -- The Israeli Ministry of Health issued a statement on the 26th saying that the Ministry has approved the emergency use of Paxlovid, an oral drug for the treatment of the new crown produced by Pfizer in the United States. This is the first oral anti-COVID-19 drug approved by Israel for emergency use.

The oral drug will be used to treat mild to moderate COVID-19 patients, the statement said. The Israeli Ministry of Health has signed a drug purchase agreement with Pfizer, which is expected to arrive in Israel in the coming days.

Paxlovid inhibits the activity of proteases necessary for the new coronavirus to replicate in the human body, the statement said. Paxlovid, which consists of two antiviral drugs, will be used in israel for home treatment, and the drug will be started 3 to 5 days after the onset of symptoms in patients with new crown for 5 days.

People wait in the departure hall of Ben Gurion International Airport in Israel on November 28. Xinhua News Agency (Photo by Jill Cohen Magen)

Previously, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration approved emergency use of Paxlovid on the 22nd of this month for the treatment of adults with mild to moderate COVID-19 and children 12 years of age and older, as well as people at higher risk of severe illness. The FDA said in its statement that after evaluating all available scientific evidence, the drug may be effective in treating patients with mild to moderate COVID-19, its known and potential benefits outweigh its known and potential risks, and its common side effects may include impaired taste, diarrhea, high blood pressure and muscle soreness.

According to the Israeli Ministry of Health, as of December 26, Israel has accumulated about 1.36 million confirmed covid-19 cases and 8,242 cumulative deaths. Some 6.5 million of the country's 9.3 million people have received at least one dose of COVID-19 vaccine, about 5.88 million have completed two doses of vaccination, and about 4.19 million people have received booster vaccinations.