{"id":12383,"date":"2021-11-17T11:57:59","date_gmt":"2021-11-17T03:57:59","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/newmalaysiatimes.com\/?p=12383"},"modified":"2021-11-17T11:58:00","modified_gmt":"2021-11-17T03:58:00","slug":"pfizer-strikes-deal-to-allow-generic-versions-of-its-covid-pill-for-worlds-poor","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/newmalaysiatimes.com\/?p=12383","title":{"rendered":"Pfizer strikes deal to allow generic versions of its Covid pill for world\u2019s poor"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Geneva, Nov 17 — US pharmaceutical giant Pfizer announced a deal to make its prospective antiviral Covid-19 pill available more cheaply in the world\u2019s least wealthy countries.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Pfizer will sub-license production of its promising Paxlovid pill to generic drug manufacturers for supply in 95 low- and middle-income nations covering around 53% of the world\u2019s population.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Under the deal struck with the global Medicines Patent Pool (MPP), Pfizer \u2013 which also produces one of the most widely-used Covid vaccines with German lab BioNTech \u2013 will not receive royalties from the generic manufacturers, making the treatment cheaper.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The agreement is subject to the oral antiviral medication passing ongoing trials and regulatory approval.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Pfizer drug is to be taken with the HIV medicine ritonavir.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Interim data from ongoing trials demonstrated an 89% reduction in the risk of Covid-19-related hospitalization or death compared to a placebo, in non-hospitalized high-risk adults with Covid-19 within three days of symptom onset, said Pfizer.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Similar results were seen within five days of symptom onset, it added.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Geneva-based MPP is a United Nations-backed international organization that works to facilitate the development of medicines for low- and middle-income nations.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

If approved, the pill could be on the market in \u201ca matter of months\u201d, MPP policy chief Esteban Burrone told AFP.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

HIV drug mix<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Pfizer will forego royalties on sales in all countries covered by the agreement while Covid-19 remains classified as a Public Health Emergency of International Concern by the World Health Organization (WHO).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Last month, WHO maintained the highest level of alert over the spread of the SARS-CoV-2 virus that causes Covid-19.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"pill\"<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

Paxlovid, or PF-07321332, is an investigational antiviral therapy designed to block the activity of the SARS-CoV-2-3CL protease \u2013 an enzyme that the coronavirus needs to replicate.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Taking it together with a low dose of ritonavir helps slow the breakdown of PF-07321332. It, therefore, remains active in the body for a longer period at a high concentration, to help combat the virus.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The pill could potentially help patients avoid severe illness, which can lead to hospitalization and death, Pfizer said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWe believe oral antiviral treatments can play a vital role in reducing the severity of Covid-19 infections, decreasing the strain on our healthcare systems, and saving lives,\u201d said Pfizer chairman and chief executive Albert Bourla.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

While a multitude of vaccines have been rolled out in the pandemic, the hunt for treatments for those who have already caught the disease has not been as fruitful.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Agreement follows Merck deal<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The MPP was founded by Unitaid, which works on innovations to prevent, diagnose and treat major diseases in poorer countries.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cDuring a pandemic, saving time means saving lives. This agreement could help us to reach more people more quickly as soon as the medicine is approved,\u201d said Unitaid executive director Philippe Duneton.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Potential sublicensees have until December 6 to register an expression of interest.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The announcement comes after the MPP signed a similar voluntary licensing deal with Pfizer\u2019s US rivals Merck & Co last month for its investigational oral antiviral medicine Molnupiravir.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Subject to regulatory approval, the deal will help create broad access to Molnupiravir in 105 low- and middle-income countries.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Pills are easier to make than vaccines, do not require a cold chain for delivery, and can be self-administered by the patient.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In terms of relieving health systems by preventing hospitalizations, \u201cit\u2019s a game-changer\u201d, said Burrone.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He said pricing for the Pfizer pill had not yet been set but said that \u201cin a competitive environment\u2026 the prices tend to come down\u201d to a low level.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Doctors Without Borders meanwhile suggested it might cost around US$700 per Pfizer treatment course, in line with Molnupiravir.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The medical charity said it was disheartened by the deal, saying restrictive voluntary licenses were no substitute for guaranteed global access to Covid tools to bring the pandemic under control.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

NMT<\/a> as reported by AFP<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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