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Photo: Merck
Dr Doug Wilson is a medical academic author and our regular correspondent from the other side of 80.
This week he returns to discuss Pfizer’s new oral antiviral drug for use against Covid-19. Paxlovid is intended to be taken after Covid symptoms develop and promises to prevent severe hospitalisations by 89 percent. Meanwhile, Britain has become the first country in the world to approve a similar drug, Merck's molnupiravir pill.
And in the wake of the success of messenger RNA vaccines against Covid, trials are underway for an HIV vaccine. Dr Wilson says the protease inhibitors and development in mRNA present significant opportunities for new cures for HIV, cancer, malaria and even the common flu.
Doug Wilson Photo: supplied