The Lancet. Infectious diseasesAug 31, 2026

Nirmatrelvir-ritonavir may reduce ongoing virus in long COVID patients in the USA: a controlled phase 2 trial

Updated Sep 1, 2026

Abstract

The investigation focuses on whether the antiviral nirmatrelvir-ritonavir may improve symptoms of long COVID.

Long COVID is a significant health issue following SARS-CoV-2 infection.
The underlying causes of long COVID remain unclear, with viral persistence being one prominent theory.
Nirmatrelvir-ritonavir is proposed as a potential treatment for alleviating long COVID symptoms.

Simplified

Post-acute sequelae of SARS-CoV-2 infection, more commonly known as long COVID, has emerged as a major health problem. The pathogenesis of long COVID is unknown, but among the leading hypotheses is viral persistence. We aimed to investigate whether the use of the SARS-CoV-2 antiviral nirmatrelvir-ritonavir improved long COVID symptoms.

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Nirmatrelvir-ritonavir may reduce ongoing virus in long COVID patients in the USA: a controlled phase 2 trial

Abstract

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