Pfizer oral treatment against Covid-19 show 89% efficacy in preventing hospitalisations
Pfizer Inc.
$25.56
05:45 22/11/24
Pfizer's new oral treatment against Covid-19 was found to significantly reduce the risk of hospitalisation or death.
Interim results for its Phase 2/3 clinical trial into the treatment, Paxlovid, revealed no deaths among those administered with it and an 89% reduction in Covid-19-related hospitalisations, the company said.
"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 ten hospitalizations,” said Albert Bourla, Pfizer's chairman and chief executive officer.
The study was conducted among adults who were at a high risk of progressing to severe illness, with the treatment provided within three days of symptom onset.
After 28 days, three of 389 patients who were given Paxlovid had been hospitalised, but none died, versus 27 out of 385 among those who were received a placebo.
The results were similar when treatment was given five days from the onset of symptoms.
As of 1229 GMT, shares of Pfizer were trading 12.66% higher to $49.38 before the opening bell on Wall Street.