The New York State Health Department has warned that it does not have enough Paxlovid or Molnupiravir antibody treatment. In a notification (pdf) issued on Dec. 27, the department warned there is currently a shortage of Paxlovid, a Pfizer oral COVID-19 antiviral pill, which has been authorized for emergency use by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. Paxlovid is taken twice per day for five days in combination with a second medicine called ritonavir, a generic antiviral drug. The drug is aimed to help patients who are suffering from “mild-to-moderate” COVID-19 symptoms from becoming so sick that they need to be hospitalized, Pfizer has said. Stocks of Molnupiravir antibody treatment, a drug from Merck and Ridgeback Biotherapeutics, are also going to be limited until more of the product becomes available, officials said, while urging providers to prioritize treatment for patients at high risk for severe COVID-19. Merck’s antiviral Molnupiravir pill was granted FDA emergency use authorization last week. Similar to Paxlovid, the drug is …
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