Lageviro, a new antiviral drug designed to treat coronavirus patients, has been approved for use in Luxembourg.
Although the European Medicines Agency (EMA) is yet to formally approve the drug, a ministerial decree was issued to allow its use in the Grand Duchy based on the UK's decision to authorise the treatment.
On enquiry, officials from the Health Directorate indicated that GPs have been trained to advise their patients and if necessary, prescribe the new medication. So far, the Grand Duchy received 5,000 doses of Lageviro from producer Merck.
Lageviro - also known as molnupiravir - made the news in Luxembourg this week after Minister of Foreign and European Affairs Jean Asselborn contracted Covid-19.
In a statement shared on social media, the LSAP politician announced that his doctor prescribed the antiviral drug Lageviro, which needs to be taken immediately after testing positive to limit the virus' ability for replication.
Aside from Lageviro, Luxembourg expects to also receive its first deliveries of Paxlovid over the course of this week. 20,000 doses are expected, but just like Lageviro, Paxlovid is only to be prescribed to at-risk patients and will only be available in hospital pharmacies with such documentation.
