A trial by Pfizer has shown that its antiviral pill for COVID-19 was effective against the disease and reduces by 89 per cent the chances of hospitalization or death for adults at risk of developing severe disease.
The pill was more effective than that of Merck & Co Inc’s Molnupiravir which has been shown to halve reduced the likelihood of death and hospitalization for COVID-19 patients who are at a “high risk of serious illness.”
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The shares of Pfizer surged 13 per cent to $49.47, while those of Merck fell 6 per cent to $84.69. The company said that it plans to submit interim trial results for its pill which is given in combination with an older antiviral called ritonavir to the US Food and Drug Administration.
The combination treatment, which will have the brand name Paxlovid, consists of three pills which will be given twice daily.
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An analysis on 1,219 patients in a Pfizer study looked at hospitalizations or deaths among people diagnosed with mild to moderate COVID-19 with at least one risk factor for developing severe disease, such as obesity or older age.
Pfizer is also studying whether the pill could be used by people without risk factors for serious COVID-19 and whether it can prevent corona virus infection among people exposed to the virus. (AW)
