The US government has ordered the Pfizer laboratory for 10 million treatments of its anti-COVID-19 pill for $ 5.29 billion subject to the green light from health authorities, President Joe Biden assuring that they will be distributed free of charge.
The pharmaceutical company, which already markets a vaccine against the virus in collaboration with BioNTech, filed at the beginning of the week with the American Medicines Agency (FDA) an emergency authorization request for this highly anticipated treatment because it may easily taken at home in the first days after the onset of symptoms in case of infection.
Even if the agency has yet to give the green light, “I have taken immediate steps to ensure sufficient supplies for the American population,” said the tenant of the White House in a statement.
The government “is doing what is necessary to ensure that these treatments will be easily accessible and free”, added Joe Biden while insisting however on the importance of the vaccine.
The antiviral treatment, which will be marketed as 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.
Antivirals work by reducing the ability of a virus to replicate, thereby slowing down the disease. They represent a key complement to vaccines to protect against COVID-19.
“Getting vaccinated remains the most important action that we can take to protect ourselves and others and put an end to this pandemic,” also said US Minister of Health Xavier Becerra in a separate press release. “But for people who get sick and are at risk of serious consequences, having pills they can take to avoid going to hospital could be a lifeline,” he added.
Washington’s order calls for the delivery of the 10 million treatments, the first by the end of the year and in 2022.
“The price paid by the US government reflects the high volume of treatments purchased,” says Pfizer in its own press release, indicating that it has engaged in discussions with other states.
The group is already benefiting greatly from sales of its COVID-19 vaccine, which allowed it to double its revenue in the third quarter to $ 24.1 billion, and to multiply its net profit by five over the period. , to $ 8.15 billion.
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.
Pfizer agreed on Tuesday to enter into a voluntary licensing agreement with the Medicines Patent Pool (MPP), created by Unitaid, which will allow generic manufacturers to produce the drug for supply to 95 middle-income countries or lower representing about 53% of the world’s population.
Merck made a similar pact with MPP for its own oral anti-COVID-19.
On Wall Street, Pfizer stock appreciated 1.36% at 3 p.m. (10 a.m. in Quebec).