Therapeutic Impact of Oral and Intravenous Antivirals on COVID-19 Outcomes in Clinical Trials
Keywords:
COVID-19, antiviral, nirmatrelvir/ritonavir, molnupiravir, remdesivir, hospitalization, mortalityAbstract
Antiviral drugs remain central to the management of COVID-19, particularly for high‑risk patients at risk of progression to severe disease. This article reviews the therapeutic effects of three key agents—nirmatrelvir/ritonavir, molnupiravir, and remdesivir—drawing mainly on randomized controlled trials and large real‑world effectiveness studies conducted during the pre‑Omicron and Omicron eras. Early placebo‑controlled trials in largely unvaccinated populations infected with ancestral or Delta variants showed substantial relative risk reductions in hospitalization or death, whereas later studies in highly immune populations reported attenuated or null benefits. The mechanisms of action, trial design features, and evolving viral and host factors are examined to contextualize the changing effect sizes. A comparative bar plot and tabular summary illustrate differences in trial settings, endpoints, and approximate risk reduction. The article highlights persistent benefit of nirmatrelvir/ritonavir in selected high‑risk groups, more modest and uncertain effects for molnupiravir, and important but context‑dependent benefit of remdesivir, underscoring the need for ongoing reassessment of antiviral deployment as SARS‑CoV‑2 and population immunity continue to evolve.
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