Almost 90% hospitalizations related to Covid-19 and deaths reduced in people at risk when taken in the first days after the onset of symptoms. Pfizer confirmed this Tuesday the very positive results of its anti-Covid-19 pill. No deaths were recorded among the more than 2,200 study participants who received the treatment. Participants were unvaccinated and at high risk of developing a severe case of Covid-19.
“This highlights the potential of this (drug) candidate to save the lives of patients around the world,” said Albert Bourla, CEO of Pfizer, quoted in a statement. Variants of concern like Omicron have exacerbated the need for accessible treatment options for those who contract the virus. “
Very easy to administer
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, in particular because they are very easy to administer, being able to be taken simply at home with a large glass of water. Pfizer, which is the source of one of the most widely used Covid-19 vaccines in the world, has also announced that its antiviral treatment, which will be marketed as Paxlovid, is expected to remain effective against the Omicron variant. .