The latest encouraging info on an early virus treatment was given out by Pfizer Inc. very recently. Indeed, the Pharmaceutical House is planning to ask the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to authorize the drug, Paxlovid, for its use this month. A preliminary look at study results revealed that Pfizer’s experimental pill proved to be very highly effective at preventing people at high risk of getting severe Covid-19 symptoms. The company’s drug reduced the risk of hospitalization or death in researched subjects with mild or moderate viral cases by about 89%. It was necessary, however, that these latter participants take the pill within three days of diagnosis. Then in the early look at ongoing studies, Paxlovid was found to be, in general, safe and well-tolerated.
With the FDA’s authorization, “…the company could deliver doses this year, should regulators give a thumbs-up,” according to Pfizer Chief Scientific Officer, Mikael Dolsten. Pfizer already appears to be sharing with the FDA info about the drug that is needed for regulatory review, such as how it will be constructed.
Another anti-viral pill, produced by Merck & Co. and Ridgeback Biotherapeutics LP, called Molnupiravir, was cleared for use in the U.K. (United Kingdom/England) this week and is up for U.S. authorization. It reduced the risk of hospitalization or death in patients with mild to moderate Covid-19 by about 50%.
Wall Street Journal writer Jared S. Hopkins said, “The advent of the promising antivirals indicates that Covid-19 drug research might be finally turning a corner after months of setbacks.”
Citi (Bank) analysts estimated that “The antiviral pill (Paxlovid) could fetch $5 billion in yearly sales, with Pfizer signing supply contracts with countries and aiming to make doses available quickly (through a tiered system).” This system would have “low- and middle-income countries…pay less than wealthier ones.”
In addition to these facts, “Paxlovid’s higher efficacy (percentage of effectiveness), compared with Merck’s drug, could also drive wider use.”
Pfizer’s drug has been shown to be active in laboratory testing against variants, including the highly contagious Delta. How does the pill work? It is designed to stop the coronavirus by blocking activity of a key enzyme found in people. The virus needs this enzyme to replicate itself.
The Pfizer Drug House tells us it is also testing the drug in people who are considered low risk of developing severe Covid-19 symptoms. This would include vaccinated people. The pill would also be used as a prophylactic to prevent the disease from occurring. Pfizer finalizes by commenting “Those results might come early next year.”
