COVID antiviral Paxlovid could have saved more than 16,000 lives, had it been properly prescribed, new Harvard study finds
From Fortune:
Thousands of Americans continue to die from COVID-19 monthly despite the existence of Paxlovid, an antiviral treatment proven to reduce severe outcomes and decrease hospitalization risks. However, there is doctor hesitation to prescribe the $1,390 medication, leading to underuse, according to experts at Johns Hopkins University.
The high price and insurance coverage issues are barriers to widespread use of the proven effective Paxlovid. While it is currently free for people on federal insurance or without insurance, the list price of $1,390 has led some doctors to refrain from prescribing it and some patients to avoid getting it. This limits its availability to those most in need of the drug.
Patients on commercial insurance plans could be denied access to Paxlovid because of high out-of-pocket costs and a separate co-pay assistance program. The high cost also affects independent pharmacy owners, cutting into their profits. The main issue is the high pricing and the considerable barriers it raises.
The potential interaction between Paxlovid and other medications, as well as alternative treatments such as Merck’s Lagevrio, has also affected Paxlovid’s adoption. The long list of medications that shouldn’t be taken with Paxlovid can deter doctors from prescribing the drug, affecting drug interactions as well.
A recent study suggests that Paxlovid was disproportionately given to Medicare patients with lower risks of severe infection. Proper utilization of the antiviral could have prevented more than 16,000 COVID-19 deaths. This highlights the underutilization and prescription biases for Paxlovid that may have resulted in unnecessary deaths.
Overall, experts stress that Paxlovid should be more widely utilized to prevent hospitalizations and deaths, as evidence suggests that underlying conditions, age, and a concerning shortage of its supply have led to avoidable deaths so far.
Read more: COVID antiviral Paxlovid could have saved more than 16,000 lives, had it been properly prescribed, new Harvard study finds