Paxlovid Users Face 20% Risk of Rebound Infections, New Study Finds

Contradicts Pfizer's Earlier Estimates, Suggests Patients Remain Infectious for Up to 14 Days

New research suggests that around 20% of people taking the antiviral drug Paxlovid could experience rebound infections, where they test positive for COVID-19 again after initially testing negative.
The study, led by Dr. Mark Siedner at Harvard Medical School and Massachusetts General Hospital, found that these rebound patients still harbor live virus in their noses for up to 14 days, suggesting they remain infectious.
The findings contradict earlier estimates from Pfizer, the maker of Paxlovid, which reported rebound infections in about 2.3% of people.
The discrepancy may be due to the frequency of testing, with more frequent testing capturing more rebound cases.
Despite the risk of rebound, experts still recommend Paxlovid for higher risk individuals due to its effectiveness at preventing severe COVID-19 outcomes.