Published date: 06-Feb-2022
Source: Prothom Alo

Paxovir reduces the risk of death and hospitalization in Corona by 89%.

Source: Prothom Alo

Corona oral medication reduces the risk of hospitalization and death of Paxovir patients by 89 percent, experts said. They say that if the drug is given early in corona patients with mild to moderate symptoms, the severity of the virus infection will decrease.

However, caution is needed in determining the dosage and use of Paxovir. The drug can be a ‘game changer’ in the treatment of corona patients. This was stated by eminent physicians of the country, senior officials of the government's health department and public health experts while participating in the CME (Continuing Medical Education) organized with Corona Antiviral Medicine.

Eskayef, one of the leading pharmaceutical companies in the country, organized this hybrid CME titled 'Antivirals for Covid-19' on Saturday. Physicians from 30 countries around the world were involved. About 3,000 doctors from a total of 42 health education institutions, including 34 medical colleges in the country, were online at the CME.

In the last week of last year, the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved the emergency use of the drug in a combination of Pfizer's Nirmatrelvi and Ritonavir tablets in Corona. The Department of Drug Administration of the Government of Bangladesh approved the emergency use of this combination drug on 30 December. Eskayef has launched a drug called 'Paxovir'. The tablet has been approved for the treatment of mild to moderate corona in adults and children over 12 years of age.

CME presented the main article of the Department of Health Non-Communicable Disease Control Program Professor. Dr. Robed Amin. He said it would be better to give Paxovir to the patient within three days of the onset of corona infection. Reduces the severity of Paxovirus infection. Paxovir has come as a life-saving drug in the new type of corona.

Former Director General of the Department of Health, Professor Dr. MA Fayez said that patients with mild to moderate infections are less likely to be hospitalized after consuming Paxovir. He says quick and effective drugs are needed at an early stage to win the fight against viruses like corona. It is positive that drugs like Paxovir are available in Bangladesh at the fastest time.

Professor Dr. Nazmul Islam, director of the Department of Disease Control at the Department of Health, said Paxovir would play a role in reducing coronary heart disease in the country. He said it was a timely decision to bring drugs like Paxovir to Bangladesh to deal with corona. However, care must be taken to ensure that this drug is not misused or overused.

Professor Dr. MA Jalil, former chairman of the Department of Medicine at Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University, said that the drugs that are coming in the corona epidemic are considered to be game changers. Only time will tell how effective these drugs are in new cases of corona. Since the cost of a person's life is much higher than the cost of medicine, it is necessary to use medicine urgently.

In a short span of time, Eskayef has launched three drugs, including Paxovir. Earlier, they had launched two drugs named Remivir and Manuvir. Titu Mia, principal of Dhaka Medical College, said that Eskayef is playing a leading role in bringing corona antiviral drugs in the country. He said that if the severity of the virus is reduced, the patient's condition becomes less complicated. For those at high risk, giving Paxovir reduces the risk of death.

Professor Dr. Khalilur Rahman,  Head of the Medicine Department at Rajshahi Medical College, thinks that various drugs are being overused and misused in the field of corona treatment in the country. Physicians need to be careful when using drugs like Paxovir, he said.

Professor Dr. MA Hasan, Head of the Medicine Department, Chittagong Medical College, said, Paxovir is a groundbreaking drug for patients who are at home with mild to moderate symptoms.

Professor Dr. GKM Shahiduzzaman, head of the medicine department at Shaheed Suhrawardy Medical College, thinks that the end of the corona epidemic could start with Paxovir. He said Paxovi's chances of death and hospitalization were reduced by 89 percent. Corona treatment can make a big difference in this medicine. Ismail Patwari, former head of the Department of Medicine at Sylhet MAG Osmani Medical, said it was important to determine which patients would use Paxovir. He said Paxovi would be life-saving for those over the age of 60 and those with other chronic illnesses (comorbidities).

Dr. Mujahidul Islam, executive director of marketing and sales at Eskayef, said Eskayef has come a long way since the Corona epidemic began. Eskayef has brought to the world in a very short time all the approved drugs of Corona in the world.

Binay Das, Associate Director, Marketing, Eskayef also spoke on the occasion. Conducted by Dr. Murad Hossain, Senior Manager, Medical Affairs, Eskayef.