Oral (edible) treatment for COVID-19 will be introduced into Korea in the middle of next month at the earliest.



The government is pushing ahead with a contract for pre-purchase of 1004,000 edible medicines.



The Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (KCDC) announced today (27th) its plan to introduce an edible COVID-19 treatment.



A total of 604,000 people have completed pre-purchase contracts by the government so far.



We signed a contract with Merck & Company (MSD) for 242,000 people and Pfizer for 362,000 people.



In preparation for the spread of Omicron mutations and the gradual recovery of daily life, the government plans to separately purchase 400,000 additional supplies.



For the additional volume, we plan to sign a contract in early January next year.



The Ministry of Food and Drug Safety (MFDS) today decided to approve the emergency use of this treatment.



Accordingly, Pfizer's 'Pax Lovid' is used in Korea first.



When the government purchases Pfizer and supplies it to domestic hospitals and pharmacies, public health centers and local governments deliver it to home therapists and residents of community treatment centers so that they can administer it.



The government will also make it available to inpatients in hospitals if necessary.



According to the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety's approval, Paxrovid can be used for mild to moderate patients with a high risk of severe progression among the age group over 12 years old and weighing 40 kg or more with a doctor's prescription.



Lee Sang-won, head of the Epidemiological Investigation and Analysis Team at the Central Quarantine Countermeasures Headquarters, explained at a briefing today, "We are closely consulting with pharmaceutical companies to expand the initial volume and shorten the introduction schedule."



"In addition to the introduction of new oral therapeutics, we will actively utilize the existing domestic antibody treatment systems," he said. said.



Director Lee also explained, "In the case of Paxrovid, the effect of preventing gastric disease is 88 to 89%.



The Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (KCDC) will prepare detailed dosing guidelines, and will continue to review additional purchases of edible medicines based on the development of domestic and foreign medicines, quarantine status, and clinical results.