RECOVER-VITAL clinical trial finds no benefit of extended duration of PAXLOVID for Long COVID

A 959-person NIH RECOVER trial found that 15- or 25-day courses of Paxlovid did not improve Long COVID symptoms compared with placebo.

The RECOVER-VITAL phase 2 trial enrolled 959 adults with Long COVID at 69 U.S. sites to test whether targeting possible viral persistence with an extended course of nirmatrelvir-ritonavir (Paxlovid) would help. Participants received 25 days of Paxlovid, 15 days of Paxlovid followed by 10 days of ritonavir with placebo, or 25 days of ritonavir with placebo.

Neither extended Paxlovid course showed clinical benefit over placebo, though the longer treatment was found to be safe. Results were published in The Lancet Infectious Diseases. Co-principal investigator Dr. Lindsey Baden of Mass General Brigham said treating viral persistence with this antiviral did not show evidence of clinical benefit.