[Reemergence Prevention Measures④] Securing 2 Million Paxlovid Doses... Introduction of New Severe Treatment Agents

Secured an Additional 940,000 Doses on Top of Existing 1.06 Million
Current Stock at 780,000 Doses... "Monthly Usage of 160,000 Doses, Sufficient"
Considering Purchase of Severe Treatment Drug 'Sabijabulin'

Pfizer's oral COVID-19 treatment 'Paxlovid' [Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Lee Chun-hee] The government will increase the total import volume of oral antiviral drugs to cover 2 million people in response to the expected surge in demand during the COVID-19 resurgence. Priority will be given to administering these drugs to high-risk groups to control symptoms early, while also considering the introduction of new treatments for severe patients.

On the 13th, the government announced the "COVID-19 Resurgence Preparedness and Response Plan," which maintains the existing prevention policy but focuses on managing high-risk groups. As long as the current severity and fatality rates remain stable, the response to the outbreak will center on vaccination, treatments, and securing hospital beds, with social distancing measures implemented partially only when the outbreak becomes severe due to their significant social and economic impact.

To this end, the government plans to increase the supply of oral antiviral drugs by adding 942,000 doses to the previously imported 1,062,000 doses, securing a total of approximately 2,004,000 doses. Among the treatments already imported, about 285,000 doses have been administered. Pfizer's Paxlovid accounts for approximately 262,000 doses, and MSD (Merck, USA)'s Lagevrio (active ingredient 'Molnupiravir') accounts for about 23,000 doses, with Paxlovid making up the majority of prescriptions. Currently, the combined remaining stock of Paxlovid and Lagevrio is about 778,000 doses. Even if daily confirmed cases reach 200,000, the monthly requirement is expected to be only 160,000 doses, so the current stock is sufficient. However, to prepare for further spread, additional purchases are planned within this month.

The number of prescribing institutions will also be expanded. Following the expansion and adjustment of prescriptions from 45 existing tertiary hospitals to respiratory patient treatment centers on the 1st of this month, prescriptions will be further extended within this month to respiratory patient treatment centers in general hospitals (327 institutions) and hospital-level facilities (692 institutions), enabling oral antiviral prescriptions at a total of 1,064 institutions.

MSD (Merck & Co., USA)'s oral COVID-19 treatment 'Lagevrio' (active ingredient 'Molnupiravir') [Image source=Yonhap News]

In response to calls for actively prescribing oral antiviral drugs to prevent severe cases, efforts will be made to increase prescription rates. High-risk groups such as residents of nursing hospitals and care facilities will be actively prescribed these drugs. Currently, treatment is considered only for patients aged 60 and over who have not completed vaccination, but going forward, prescriptions will be initiated early to minimize severe illness in high-risk groups.

To support this, rapid supply of oral antiviral drugs through public health centers will be implemented, and prescriptions will continue for patients aged 60 and over, immunocompromised individuals, and patients aged 12 and over with underlying conditions who test positive on expert rapid antigen tests (RAT).

Additionally, the introduction of new treatments is under consideration. This includes Veru's oral treatment for severe patients, Sabizabulin, which applied for emergency use authorization from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) last month. Unlike Paxlovid and Lagevrio, which are used for patients with mild symptoms who do not require hospitalization, Sabizabulin targets severe patients. In phase 3 clinical trials, it reduced the relative risk of death in severe patients by 55% compared to placebo.