NIH-backed trial finds Paxlovid ineffective for treating long Covid symptoms

A NIH-supported trial at Boston’s Mass General Brigham health system evaluated whether Pfizer’s antiviral Paxlovid could relieve long-Covid symptoms. Participants were assigned to receive the complete drug, each component separately, or a placebo for 15 to 25 days, longer than the standard five-day regimen for acute infection. The findings, published in Lancet Infectious Diseases, demonstrated that none of the treatment arms outperformed placebo, suggesting the medication does not mitigate viral persistence in long-Covid.

Co-principal investigator Lindsey Baden described the outcome as “unfortunate.” The results indicate that Paxlovid, which blocks SARS-CoV-2 replication, is not a viable therapy for post-acute COVID-19 sequelae.