Research suggests COVID rebound after Pfizer’s Paxlovid probably by sturdy not weak response

A small research steered that COVID-19 rebound could also be probably attributable to a strong immune response somewhat than a weak one in sufferers who had taken Pfizer’s (NYSE:PFE) oral antiviral Paxlovid.

The trial outcomes additionally didn’t assist the speculation that the five-day course of Paxlovid (nirmatrelvir/ritonavir) was too quick for the physique to develop a robust immune response to the novel coronavirus.

The research was led by scientists on the Nationwide Institute of Allergy and Infectious Ailments (NIAID), a part of the Nationwide Institutes of Well being (NIH).

The research to judge COVID-19 rebound included 6 individuals (three males and three girls with a median age of 42 years), 2 who skilled recurrent signs who didn’t take Paxlovid; and a management group of 6 individuals who had COVID-19 however didn’t expertise symptom rebound. All these members have been beforehand vaccinated with booster dose and none developed extreme illness, NIH mentioned in an Oct. 6 press launch.

NIH added that the research discovered no proof of genetic mutations which might recommend that those that skilled COVID rebound have been contaminated with a pressure of the virus that was proof against Paxlovid.

The trial additionally discovered no proof of delayed growth of antibodies, and investigators detected sturdy SARS-CoV-2 T-cell responses in rebound sufferers, in accordance with NIH.

The company famous that Total, the extent of T-cell responses was higher in rebound sufferers than in sufferers with early acute COVID-19 who didn’t expertise rebound.

The research steered that rebound signs could possibly be partially attributable to sturdy mobile immune response to residual viral RNA within the respiratory tract, somewhat than an impaired immune response permitting viral replication.

Nevertheless, the trial authors famous {that a} bigger research was wanted to additional perceive COVID-19 rebound.