Pfizer (PFE) announced on Friday the effectiveness results of its oral COVID-19 pill – a drug that was developed to reduce the risk of hospitalizations and deaths in high-risk adults who have been exposed to the virus.

The COVID-19 drug was found to drastically decrease the risk of hospitalization and death by as much as 89% when used in combination with a common HIV drug.

Pfizer said it planned to submit its findings to the Food and Drug Administration “as soon as possible.”

“Today’s news is a real game-changer in the global efforts to halt the devastation of this pandemic. 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 10 hospitalizations,” Albert Bourla, chairman and CEO at Pfizer, said in a statement.

The news of Pfizer’s COVID-19 pill comes just a day after Merck received authorization for its antiviral pill by the U.K. Merck’s COVID-19 pill has also been shown to be effective at treating the virus at the first sign of illness.

Merck said its antiviral drug reduced hospitalizations by 50% and prevented 100% of deaths compared to a placebo. The drugmaker applied for emergency use authorization of the oral anti-COVID drug in the U.S. in mid-October.

Pfizer’s COVID-19 pill, which is scientifically referred to as PF-07321332, is designed to block the virus by using an enzyme the coronavirus needs to replicate.

Pfizer conducted its mid- to late-stage study on 1,219 patients who had at least one underlying medication condition and a laboratory-confirmed infection within a five-day period.

Results of the trial presented six hospitalizations and zero deaths from the 607 patients who received the antiviral pill treatment. The remaining participants who received the placebo resulted in 41 hospitalizations and 10 deaths from 612 patients.

As of Friday premarket hours, shares of Pfizer were trading at $48.50, up $4.65, or 10.6%.

Pfizer said a completed study of its experimental Covid-19 vaccine showed it was 95 percent effective, higher than previously reported.
Pfizer said a completed study of its experimental Covid-19 vaccine showed it was 95 percent effective, higher than previously reported. AFP / Don EMMERT
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