Europe: EMA approves use of Pfizer's anti-Covid pill for certain patients

Manufacture of the experimental antiviral pills against Covid-19, Paxlovid, in the Pfizer laboratory in Freiburg, Germany.

Handout Pfizer / AFP / Archivos

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While the Omicron variant is spreading in Europe, the European Medicines Agency validated Thursday, December 16 the use of Pfizer's antiviral pill to treat certain patients with Covid-19.

A new encouraging tool in the fight against the epidemic, before the authorization to market this treatment.

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With the authorization of Pfizer's antiviral drug, the European Medicines Agency (EMA) wants to avoid overloading hospitals on the continent. 

This anti-Covid-19 pill, called Paxlovid, can be used under certain conditions.

It is intended for adult patients who are not on oxygen and who are at risk of a severe form of the disease.

To be effective, the pill should be swallowed at most 5 days after the onset of symptoms.

According to the latest Pfizer tests, it reduces the risk of being hospitalized or dying from Covid by 89%. 

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This pill is the first of its kind truly effective and easy to use, unlike monoclonal antibodies which are very expensive and require an infusion in the hospital. 

There now remains the question of production and distribution.

The laboratory hopes to produce 80 million by the end of 2022.

Pfizer also has an agreement with 95 countries to manufacture generic drugs.

The goal is to make this treatment available beyond rich countries.

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• Coronavirus

• Vaccines

• Health and medicine