New Delhi, November 5

The race to develop easy to use home therapies for Covid-19 heated up on Friday with the American multinational Pfizer claiming 89 per cent reduction in hospitalisation and death among high-risk adults who took its newly developed antiviral pill.

The company said it would soon apply to the US drug regulator for emergency use approval for the medication.

Historic day

Today is a historic day as the UK is now the first country in the world to approve an antiviral that can be taken at home for Covid. Sajid Javid, UK Health Secretary

Second such pill

Pfizer announcement comes a day after US drug maker Merck’s first oral Covid therapy got UK nod for use at home

With this announcement, Pfizer becomes the second pharma firm in the world after US drug-maker Merck to present an easy to administer

Covid-19 tablet at a time when vaccination remains the mainstay of treatment, leaving millions worldwide at a risk due to persisting supply gap and low coverage.

Merck’s Molnupiravir, a tablet to be administered twice a day to high-risk Covid patients, is the first oral therapy developed for Covid cure so far.

Molnupiravir got the approval from the regulator of the United Kingdom on Thursday on claims of 50 per cent reduction in hospitalisation and death among vulnerable Covid patients.

Announcing the approval by the drug regulator, England’s Health Secretary Sajid Javid said, “Today is a historic day as the Britain is now the first country in the world to approve an antiviral that can be taken at home for Covid.” — TNS