Paxlovid: development, pharmacology and implications for pharmaceutical practice

Authors

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.33448/rsd-v12i5.41699

Keywords:

Pharmacological treatment of Covid-19, Antiviral drug, Pharmacology, Covid-19.

Abstract

Paxlovid is an oral medication consisting of two active principles, nirmatrelvir and ritonavir, which act by preventing the viral replication of Sars-CoV-2 through the reversible inhibition of the 3Clpro protease. Developed in a short period of time by Pfizer, paxlovid was temporarily authorized on an experimetal basis by ANVISA for the treatment of Covid-19 in adults who do not require the use of supplemental oxygen and who are at high risk of developing serious complications. Thus, the objective of the work was to present a review of paxlovid in the treatment of Covid-19, an overview of the pharmacological properties, including pharmacodynamics, pharmacokinetics and potential drugs interactions, its development and implications for pharmaceutical practice. This is a literature review of the narrative type, based on the results of a bibliographical research carried out on the PubMed platform between february 18th and 20th, 2023, processed in three stages: identification, screening and inclusion. A total of 708 articles were identified and approximately 3.24% of the total sample was selected for review. The addition of the article Covid-19: pathophysiology and targets for therapeutic intervention was validated, resulting in a final sample of 24 selected articles. With its efficacy, effectiveness and safety well clarified by several clinical studies and in the light of pharmacology, paxlovid represents a fundamental tool in the fight against the Sars-CoV-2 virus, however, the pharmacist must perform a critical management, considering the risk and the potential for pharmacological interactions between paxlovid and other drugs.

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References

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Published

2023-05-18

Issue

Section

Review Article

How to Cite

Paxlovid: development, pharmacology and implications for pharmaceutical practice. Research, Society and Development, [S. l.], v. 12, n. 5, p. e18112541699, 2023. DOI: 10.33448/rsd-v12i5.41699. Disponível em: https://ojs34.rsdjournal.org/index.php/rsd/article/view/41699. Acesso em: 29 jun. 2025.