This page is intended as reference information for the general public.
What is Paxlovid and what is it used for?
Paxlovid (nirmatrelvir, ritonavir) is an oral antiviral medicine that is indicated for the treatment of COVID-19 in adults who do not require supplemental oxygen and who are at increased risk for progression to severe COVID-19.
Paxlovid contains two different active substances: nirmatrelvir and ritonavir. Nirmatrelvir is active against the virus that causes COVID-19 and ritonavir prolongs the therapeutic effect of nirmatrelvir.
Paxlovid stops SARS-CoV-2 (the virus that causes COVID-19) from multiplying in the body. This keeps virus levels in the body low and helps the immune system to overcome the viral infection.
You must talk to a doctor if you do not feel better or if you feel worse while on treatment with Paxlovid.
Licensing Information
This medicinal product has been granted a conditional Marketing Authorisation in Great Britain. A conditional Marketing Authorisation was granted in the interest of public health because the medicine addresses an unmet medical need and the benefit of immediate availability outweighs the risk from a review of less comprehensive data than normally required.
Reference Information
Medicines in Northern Ireland fall under the remit of the European Medicines Agency (EMA) whilst medicines in Great Britain (England, Scotland and Wales) fall under the remit of the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) following the UK leaving the European Union. These agencies are responsible for the scientific evaluation, supervision and safety monitoring of medicines developed by pharmaceutical companies.
If you would like to see the Summary of Product Characteristics (SPC) or Patient Information Leaflet (PIL) for Paxlovid please follow these links:
Great Britain
Paxlovid (nirmatrelvir, ritonavir)
Northern Ireland
Paxlovid (nirmatrelvir, ritonavir)
▼ This medicine is subject to additional monitoring. This will allow quick identification of new safety information.
If you are concerned about an adverse event, it should be reported on a Yellow Card. Reporting forms and information can be found at https://coronavirus-yellowcard.mhra.gov.uk or search for MHRA Yellow Card in the Google Play or Apple App Store. When reporting please include the vaccine brand and batch/Lot number if available.
Alternatively, adverse events of concern in association with Paxlovid can be reported to Pfizer Medical Information on 01304 616161 or via www.pfizersafetyreporting.com.
Please do not report the same adverse event(s) to both systems as all reports will be shared between Pfizer and MHRA (in an anonymised form) and dual reporting will create unnecessary duplicates.
By reporting side effects, you can help provide more information on the safety of this medicine.
Pfizer is unable to provide advice on personal medical matters. Please consult your doctor or other relevant health professional for specific, health-related advice and support.