Pfizer deal to cost $9 million; CAPT delays nod to ‘Paxlovid’ import

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KUWAIT CITY, Feb 22: While the Ministry of Health is waiting for the approval of the regulatory authorities to import the medicine “Paxlovid” through direct contract with the Pfizer Company at a cost of up to $9 million, informed sources said the Central Agency for Public Tenders (CAPT) has postponed the decision to contract or not until a later time, reports Al-Qabas daily.

According to health sources, Paxlovid is an antiviral medicine. It has been proven to reduce the possibility of hospitalization for COVID-19 patients by nearly 90 percent, particularly when they are at the risk of severe disease.

The medicine is a mixture of pills taken orally, and helps reduce the virus’ ability to multiply. The European Medicines Agency had previously recommended the use of Paxlovid to treat COVID-19 infections in adults who are at an increased risk of developing more severe symptoms of the disease. The sources stressed the ministry’s keenness to import the latest types of medicines and vaccines approved by international health organizations and bodies, and after obtaining the approval of the regulatory authorities in the country. They said recent studies confirm that Paxlovid has the ability to maintain plasma concentrations several times higher than the amount required to prevent the Omicron variant from multiplying in cells.

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