U.S. Has Secured ‘Millions’ Of Pfizer Antiviral Pills, President Biden Says
Topline
The U.S. has secured “thousands and thousands of doses” of Pfizer’s antiviral capsule Paxlovid to deal with Covid-19 pending FDA authorization, President Joe Biden mentioned Friday, a couple of hours after the drugmaker introduced that its drug decreased the chance of hospitalization or loss of life because of the illness by 89%.
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Key Info
The U.S. has “already secured millions of doses” of Paxlovid for when it’s permitted by the Meals and Drug Administration and that it might be “one other instrument in our toolbox” for the nation’s efforts to fight Covid-19,” Biden mentioned.
On Friday morning, Pfizer said its drug was 89% efficient in reducing down hospitalization or loss of life in sufferers at excessive threat who took the drug inside three days of symptom onset.
Pfizer Chief Govt Officer Albert Bourla mentioned on CNBC’s Squawk Field that the corporate will submit trial information to the FDA for regulatory approval “before Thanksgiving vacation.”
Final month, the U.Okay. authorities mentioned it had secured 250,000 courses of Pfizer’s oral capsule.
Key Background
The replace on Pfizer’s antiviral capsule got here a day after the U.Okay. approved Merck’s antiviral capsule molnupiravir to deal with Covid. The U.S. has dedicated to purchasing 1.7 million programs of molnupiravir if it will get permitted by the FDA for emergency use. In the meantime, throughout his go to to Pfizer’s manufacturing web site in Kalamazoo, Michigan on Friday, Biden mentioned: “The vaccines are protected.” The Biden administration has been pushing to get folks vaccinated as a part of its efforts to include the virus, together with with federal vaccine-or-test mandates which were met with robust opposition in GOP-led states and from People who’re uncomfortable with getting vaccinated.
Tangent
Pfizer’s promising examine outcomes for its capsule despatched Merck’s shares falling by 9%, whereas Pfizer’s shares had been up 7.6% as of midday Friday. Vaccine makers took successful from Pfizer’s announcement: shares of Moderna plummeted 22.6%, BioNTech was down 19%, and Novavax dropped 15% at the moment. Shares of Regeneron, which produces a Covid remedy, additionally fell 6%.
Additional Studying
Biden says U.S. has secured doses of new Pfizer COVID pill (Reuters)
Billions Wiped From Covid Pharma Heavyweights—Together with Moderna, Regeneron, Merck—As Pfizer’s Antiviral Tablet Triggers Selloff (Forbes)
Merck’s Covid Tablet Molnupiravir Approved For First Time In The U.Okay. (Forbes)
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