COVID Antivirals Less Effective Than First Thought, Research Finds
Taxpayers have poured $2 billion into oral antivirals, but researchers say falling risk and changing virus strains mean it's time to reassess.
TL;DR
- New Australian research questions the routine use of expensive oral COVID-19 antivirals.
- Clinical trials have reportedly not shown a significant reduction in hospitalisation or death among vaccinated populations.
- Findings published in Open Forum Infectious Diseases by UNSW and Monash University researchers.
- The Pharmaceutical Benefits Advisory Committee (PBAC) is scheduled to review the drugs later this year.
- High taxpayer costs associated with the antivirals are a point of concern.
- Over 1.5 million Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS) prescriptions have been issued for Paxlovid and Lagevrio since January 2022.