Pfizer Inc. executives said patients who suffer a relapse in Covid-19 symptoms after taking a full course of Paxlovid should take more of the treatment, though current U.S. guidelines limit use to five consecutive days.
“Paxlovid does what it has to do: It reduces the viral
load,” Chief Executive Officer Albert Bourla said in an interview. “Then your
body is supposed to do the job.” But for unknown reasons, the CEO added, some
aren’t about to clear out the virus with the first course of treatment.
In cases where virus levels do rebound, Bourla said, “then
you give a second course, like you do with antibiotics, and that’s it.”