Here’s what we know…
After announcing its COVID-19 Oral Antiviral Treatment Candidate on November 5th, Pfizer has since released data regarding the pill’s efficacy.
Preliminary data from phase 2/3 on Paxlovid, the name of the oral antiviral developed by Pfizer, shows that it reduces COVID-19 deaths and hospitalization. According to the data released on December 14th, the pill reduces hospitalization and death by 89% if taken in the first three days of the onset of symptoms, and 88% if taken within 5 days.
The study – which included 2,245 unvaccinated volunteers – was promising, given only 0.7% of those who received the pill were hospitalized compared to the 6.5% who had taken a placebo.
Pfizer also conducted the study on 662 vaccinated volunteers who were at high risk of developing severe disease. In that group, the reduction of hospitalization and death stood at 70%.
If the antiviral is approved by the FDA, Paxlovid could be a more effective treatment option in the years come. Having access to this breakthrough pill could make the disease more manageable compared to the CDC’s current plan of administering booster doses vaccine efficacy has waned. Given that conclusive evidence shows that all three major COVID-19 vaccines – Johnson and Johnson, Moderna, and Pfizer – are less effective over time.