Why SARS-CoV-2 virus subvariants accelerated the pandemic

But Paxlovid proved poor insurance against recurrence of COVID-19 or subsequent reinfection.

In June 2022main author Davey Smith, MDchief of infectious diseases and global public health at UC San Diego School of Medicine and infectious disease specialist at UC San Diego Health, Carlin and colleagues have published data suggesting that the so-called “rebound of Paxlovid” was probably due to insufficient drug exposure.

In October 2022Smith and his colleagues published a different study that documented the likelihood of COVID-19 symptoms recurring in untreated patients after the first symptoms resolved.

“Our results suggest that while early antiviral therapy can prevent severe COVID-19, it does not eliminate the need for subsequent vaccination or boosters to promote protective immune responses,” Smith said.

“The findings also underscore the importance of ongoing research and the need for continued efforts to understand the virus and develop effective treatments and vaccines. The past is prologue, not because the virus is the same, but because it is constantly evolving, so we too must evolve to face the threat and anticipate the next pandemic.

Co-authors include: Alex E. Clark, Aaron F. Garretson, William Bray, Magali Porrachia, Tariq M. Rana, and Antoine Chaillon, all at UC San Diego; and AsherLev T. Saints, CSU St. Mark.

Financial support for this research came, in part, from the National Institutes of Health (AI036214, AI131385, CA177322, DA039562, DA046171, AI125103, DA049644, AI145555, MH128153, AI106039, K08 AI130381, and DP2 grants CA06519150), , Department of Veterans Affairs, the John and Mary Tu Foundation and the James B. Pendleton Charitable Trust and a Career Award for Medical Scientists from the Burroughs Wellcome Fund.