Health

Pfizer: Covid antiviral drug cuts risk of hospitalization, death by 89%

New York, Nov 5 (EFE).- American pharmaceutical giant Pfizer on Friday said its experimental antiviral pill for Covid-19 reduces the risk of hospitalization or death by 89% in adults who had been exposed to the disease.

Pfizer published the findings in a preliminary report of a study that involved 775 adults.

The report concluded that administering Paxlovid in combination with another antiviral cut the risk of hospitalization or death by 89% when compared to Covid-19 patients who were given a placebo.

“Today’s news is a real game-changer in the global efforts to halt the devastation of this pandemic,” Albert Bourla, Pfizer Chairman and Chief Executive Officer said in a statement.

“These data suggest that our oral antiviral candidate, if approved or authorized by regulatory authorities, has the potential to save patients’ lives, reduce the severity of Covid-19 infections, and eliminate up to nine out of ten hospitalizations,” Bourla added.

If Paxlovid gets approval it could become the first drug of its kind designed specifically to treat Covid-19.

Pfizer said the pill could be prescribed broadly for at-home treatment, to reduce hospitalizations and illness severity.

The company said it planned to file the data with the United States Federal Drug Agency as part of a rolling submission for emergency use approval. EFE

rml/ch/jt

Related Articles

Back to top button