Mainland Conditionally Approves Pfizer's Covid Pill

The mainland drug regulator on Saturday gave conditional approval to imports of Pfizer's Paxlovid Covid-19 pill, official media reported.

The National Medical Products Administration said Paxlovid has obtained conditional approval for the treatment of adults who have mild to moderate Covid-19 and high risk of progressing to a severe condition. Further study on the drug needed to be conducted and submitted to the authority, it said.

It is not immediately clear if mainland authorities are already in talks with Pfizer to procure the pill. Pfizer did not reply to a request for comment.

Pfizer executives said the company was in active discussions with more than 100 countries about Paxlovid, and has the capacity to provide 120 million courses if needed.

Pfizer in December said final trial results showed its treatment reduced the chance of hospital admission or death by 89 per cent in Covid-19 patients at risk of severe illness given the treatment within three days of the onset of symptoms, and by 88 per cent when given within five days of onset.

The United States is paying around US$530 for each course of Paxlovid and US$700 for each course of rival Covid-19 pill molnupiravir, developed by Merck & Co. (Reuters/RTHK)