A panel of independent advisers Thursday recommended the
The committee said it found the benefits of the co-packaged, two-drug oral medication outweighed the risks.
Up until now, the investigational medicine had only been authorized for emergency use by the FDA, which was granted in 2021.
A final decision from the FDA is expected in May. The agency typically follows the recommendations of its independent advisory panels, but is not required to do so.
A report released ahead of Thursday's hearing found the drug to be safe and effective when used to treat adults at risk of severe COVID-19 symptoms, including hospitalization or death.
Over 11 million people across the globe have taken the
The report found rebound rates for patients who took Paxlovid were between 10% and 16%.
"I'd say besides oxygen, Paxlovid has probably been the single most important tool in this epidemic, and it continues to be," committee member Dr.
"We still have many groups that stand to benefit from the use of Paxlovid, including unvaccinated persons, undervaccinated persons, elderly, immunocompromised, and the other treatment options that we have have significant disadvantages."
Last month, results of a new study showed Paxlovid to be effective against the COVID-19 BA.4 and BA.5 subvariants.
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