Carlos Wong (Hong Kong University)

Title: Real-world effectiveness of oral antiviral treatment for COVID-19 in Hong Kong

Abstract: Oral antivirals, molnupiravir and nirmatrelvir/ritonavir, have been used in patients with SARS -CoV-2 infection to reduce the risks of severe disease and mortality, and hence to reduce the burden on health-care systems. In early 2022, published clinical trials were conducted in unvaccinated, non-hospitalised patients with mild-to-moderate COVID -19 during the SARS -CoV-2 delta variant, while evidence on real-world effectiveness of oral antivirals in patients infected with Omicron variant was scarce. This seminar will present the findings of two real-world studies examine the effectiveness of molnupiravir and nirmatrelvir/ritonavir in hospitalised patients and community-dwelling patients with SARS -CoV-2 during a pandemic wave dominated by omicron BA.2.2 in Hong Kong, China.