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Nov 8, 2021Liked by John Skylar, PhD

Correction: Paxlovid (PF-07321332) is not ritonavir, but rather is given in combination with ritonavir.

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I'm very interested in Pfizer's ongoing EPIC-PEP trial, which is looking at the efficacy of Paxlovid for post-exposure prophylaxis. See slide 28 here: https://s21.q4cdn.com/317678438/files/doc_financials/2021/q3/Q3-2021-Earnings-Charts-FINALv2.pdf.

I'm very disappointed that there don't appear to be any plans for pediatric trials currently.

I could envision a future where, essentially, careful people perform home tests multiple times a week, taking a course of antivirals at the first sign of infection to prevent progression to serious disease. Of course, this is a non-starter when antigen tests run $10 a piece.

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I actually am going to take a rapid antigen test as soon as I finish this comment. No, I'm not sick, but tomorrow I'm going to visit some relatives, and I happen to like them. I don't want to risk bringing a deadly disease with me.

I saw speculation that molnupiravir, despite being meant only to cause mutagenesis in viruses, can do the same to human DNA. For one example:

https://www.pharmaceutical-technology.com/features/molnupiravir-safety-questions-approvals-approach/

Or this letter to the BMJ: https://www.bmj.com/content/375/bmj.n2422/rr-5

Your opinion?

Doing the search to find that, I was surprised to find out how many publications there are on molnupiravir and its metabolites, so many that there is already at least one systematic review (https://www.researchgate.net/publication/355787582_Molnupiravir_in_COVID-19_A_systematic_review_of_literature)

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