A large-scale multicenter study has found that azvudine, an antiviral drug, shows lower mortality and fewer adverse effects in hospitalized COVID-19 patients compared to the widely used Paxlovid.
This finding holds critical implications for the treatment strategies of COVID-19, particularly in enhancing patient outcomes and managing comorbid conditions like liver cancer.
A comparative study on azvudine and Paxlovid demonstrates azvudine's enhanced efficacy in reducing mortality in COVID-19 patients, alongside fewer adverse effects and potential antitumor benefits. Conducted in Henan and Xinjiang provinces of China, the research involved over 40,000 hospitalized patients, with results indicating azvudine's lower all-cause mortality rate and safety advantages.
37,606 patients: Total study population in the Henan Province cohort.
469 deaths: Observed all-cause deaths, with 288 in the azvudine group versus 181 in the Paxlovid group.
21% lower risk: Reduction in mortality risk with azvudine compared to Paxlovid.
Understand the effectiveness of azvudine in treating COVID-19 compared to Paxlovid.
Azvudine is a promising antiviral for COVID-19 treatment.
Azvudine shows potential as an effective treatment in reducing mortality among hospitalized COVID-19 patients.
"Azvudine's efficacy in reducing mortality in COVID-19 patients is evident," said Haiyu Wang, one of the study's lead authors.
The recent study compared azvudine to Paxlovid in a real-world setting involving hospitalized COVID-19 patients in China. Azvudine demonstrated a significant reduction in the risk of all-cause death compared to Paxlovid.
The study's results suggest a promising role for azvudine in treating COVID-19, especially for patient populations with limited options. Wang's assertion underscores azvudine's potential as a leading antiviral treatment.
Azvudine exhibits fewer adverse effects compared to Paxlovid.
Azvudine is associated with a lower incidence of adverse events among patients.
The safety profile of azvudine makes it a viable alternative for COVID-19 therapy.
Fewer adverse effects were reported with azvudine compared to Paxlovid, particularly in milder categories of adverse events. This finding enhances azvudine's safety profile.
The improved safety profile of azvudine is crucial for patients who may experience severe side effects from more conventional treatments. This attribute could broaden the scope of azvudine's application in clinical settings.
Azvudine's antitumor properties present additional therapeutic advantages.
In addition to antiviral efficacy, azvudine may offer antitumor benefits.
Azvudine's dual action could be beneficial for COVID-19 patients with comorbid cancer conditions.
The research highlighted azvudine's potential antitumor effects, particularly in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma, indicating an added benefit beyond antiviral treatment.
"The antitumor effects of azvudine could redefine its use in clinical practice," noted Guangying Cui, a co-author of the study.
Cui's observations align with existing data, suggesting that azvudine could be a multi-functional drug, contributing positive outcomes in both viral and cancer treatment arenas. This could influence future treatment protocols for patients with such dual diagnoses.
Wang, H., Cui, G., & Cheng, M. (2025). Real‐world effectiveness and safety of oral azvudine versus nirmatrelvir‒ritonavir (Paxlovid) in hospitalized patients with COVID-19: a multicenter, retrospective, cohort study. Signal Transduction and Targeted Therapy, 10(1), 1-10. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41392-025-02126-w