(Washington) Pfizer on Tuesday announced that it has requested urgent US authorization for its anti-COVID-19 pill, a highly anticipated treatment because it can easily be taken at home in the first days after symptoms appear. in case of infection.
The pharmaceutical giant has filed this request with the US Medicines Agency (FDA), he said in a statement.
This antiviral treatment, which will be marketed under the name Paxlovid, has been shown to be 89% effective against hospitalizations and death in clinical trials, when taken within three days of symptom onset.
These trials were conducted by the company on people at high risk of developing a severe case of COVID-19. They ingested the drug every 12 hours for five days.
“The overwhelming efficacy achieved in our clinical study of Paxlovid, and its ability to help save lives and keep people out of hospital if authorized, underscores the critical role that antiviral therapies can play in the battle. against COVID-19, ”said Pfizer boss Albert Bourla, quoted in the press release.
Antivirals work by reducing the ability of a virus to replicate, thereby slowing down the disease. These treatments represent a key complement to vaccines to protect against COVID-19.
The Washington Post reported on Tuesday that the US government plans to announce the purchase of 10 million treatments this week.
Pfizer has said it plans to invest up to $ 1 billion to manufacture and distribute Paxlovid.
A voluntary license agreement was also announced Tuesday with the Medicines Patent Pool (MPP). This agreement should allow generic manufacturers to produce the drug for supply to 95 countries with middle and lower income.
The American laboratory Merck has also developed an antiviral treatment, molnupiravir, authorized in early November in a first country, the United Kingdom.
An FDA committee is due to meet on November 30 to decide on Merck’s US drug approval request.
Washington has already purchased 3.1 million treatments from Merck.