Pfizer Is Making A Covid-19 Pill, Here’s What You Need To Know About It

Paxlovid is showing better results than Molnupiravir, but it is still experimental.

Malay Mail

Subscribe to our Telegram channel for the latest stories and updates.

An experimental antiviral pill to treat Covid-19 by Pfizer that has been developed is said to cut the risk of hospitalisation or death by 89% in vulnerable adults.

This comes a month after pharmaceutical company Merck announced their pill to treat Covid-19.

Trials for Pfizer’s pill Paxlovid suggest that its results surpass Merck’s pill Molnupiravir by halving the chance of dying or being hospitalized for Covid-19 patients at high risk of serious illness.

The Trials and Treatment With Paxlovid

According to Pfizer, the trial for the drug stopped early due to its high success rate and plans to submit trial results to the American Food and Drugs Administration (FDA) before 25 November.

However, treatment of Covid-19 with Paxlovid isn’t so straightforward as taking a few pills every day.

It is given in combination with an older antiviral drug called ritonavir, an antiretroviral medication used together with other medications to treat HIV/AIDS.

The treatment also consists of three pills given twice daily.

Not an alternative to vaccines

Vaccines are still the most effective and reliable tool to combat the Covid-19 pandemic and Dr Grace Lee, professor of paediatrics at Stanford University School of Medicine says:

These oral medications are going to augment our ability to really reduce the risk of severe disease, hospitalization and death, which is huge, but it won’t prevent infection.

There’s currently no news of Malaysia purchasing Paxlovid by Pfizer.

However, Health Minister Khairy Jamaluddin agreed last month to purchase 150,000 courses of Merck’s experimental antiviral pill Molnupiravir.