A senior panel member said the National Task Force on Covid-19 is reviewing the evidence from Pfizer’s PaxLovid on whether to include the oral drug in its treatment guidelines.
However, a final decision on the drug, which has been strongly recommended by the World Health Organization, is yet to be taken as experts are monitoring global data.
The meeting took place on Friday.
The drug regulator recently granted restricted emergency use approval to Paxlovid to be manufactured in India by Hyderabad-based Hetero Drugs.
“The meeting discussed Pfizer’s Paxlovid anti-viral drug and examined all the evidence. After synthesizing all the evidence, if a solid and strong indication emerges, then only it will be added to the COVID-19 treatment guidelines,” a member of the National Task Force, requesting anonymity, told Mint.
“However, Paxlovid has not yet been added. We regularly monitor trials that are underway globally. Some have been completed and some are yet to be completed. Therefore, experts from the national task force We are monitoring the global data,” the member said.
Questions sent to the health ministry, Indian Council for Medical Research and Pfizer on Sunday morning remained unanswered at press time.
The World Health Organization (WHO) “strongly recommends” Pfizer’s oral antiviral drug (a combination of nirmatrelavir and ritonavir tablets) for patients with non-severe COVID-19 who are at highest risk of hospitalization , such as unvaccinated, older or immunosuppressed patients.