Britain has approved Pfizer’s (NYSE:PFE) COVID-19 pill for patients over the age of 18 years who have mild to moderate infection and are at high risk of their illness worsening.
Britain is scrambling to build its defenses as it hit a daily record of new COVID-19 cases on Thursday, government data showed surge in cases in the winter season as the omicron variant of the virus spreads quickly.
Based on data, the pill, Paxlovid, is most effective when taken during the early stages of COVID-19, Britain’s Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) said on Friday, recommending it be used within five days of the onset of symptoms.
Pfizer this month said Paxlovid showed near 90% efficacy in preventing hospitalizations and deaths in high-risk patients, and recent lab data suggests the drug retains its effectiveness against the fast spreading omicron variant of the coronavirus.
The MHRA said it is working with Pfizer, which makes one of the leading Covid-19 vaccines with German partner BioNTech (NASDAQ:BNTX), to track Paxlovid’s effectiveness against omicron.
Paxlovid is made of two active substances which come as two separate pills taken twice a day together for five days. Britain has secured more than 2.75 million courses of the antiviral treatment.
In New York, PFE shares gained 26 cents to $58.66.