Pfizer Begins Trial Of Oral Drug For Prevention Of Covid-19

<p><strong>New Delhi:</strong> In the race to produce an oral antiviral drug for the prevention of Covid-19 infection, Pfizer Inc has begun its trials for the drug among those who have been exposed to the virus. Other drugmakers including US-based Merck &amp; Co Inc and Swiss pharmaceutical Roche Holding AG are trying to develop an easy-to-administer antiviral pill for Covid-19, according to Reuters.</p> <h3><strong>What are trials focused on?</strong></h3> <p>The mid-to-late-stage trials will be focused on testing Pfizer's drug, PF-07321332, in up to 2,660 healthy adult participants aged 18 and older. Such participants will belong to the same household and shown confirmed symptomatic Covid-19 infection.</p> <p><strong>ALSO READ: <a href="https://ift.tt/3EXPyC0 President Joe Biden Takes Third Dose Of Pfizer Vaccine As Booster, Urges People To Get Vaccinated</a></strong></p> <p>The trial will analyse the drug PF-07321332, designed to block the activity of a key enzyme needed for the coronavirus to multiply. The drug will be administered accompanied by a low dose of ritonavir, an older medication widely used in combination treatments for HIV infection.</p> <p>One-third of patients in the trial will receive a placebo, while the remaining people will be given a dose of the drug twice a day for either five or 10 days.&nbsp;</p> <p>The drugmaker has also started another study of PF-07321332 in non-hospitalized, symptomatic adult patients. As of now, Gilead Sciences Inc's intravenous drug remdesivir is the only antiviral treatment approved for Covid-19 in the United States.</p> <p>Merck and partner Ridgeback Biotherapeutics also launched a late-stage trial of their experimental drug molnupiravir for prevention of the Covid-19 infection. Molnupiravir is also being studied in a late-stage trial in non-hospitalized patients to see if it reduces the risk of hospitalization or death.</p> <p>&nbsp;</p>

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