Oral COVID-19 Drug Trial, Pfizer: It Is Strong Against Sars-CoV-2 Virus

JAKARTA - The pharmaceutical company from the United States, Pfizer Inc., announced that it is conducting initial trials of COVID-19 antiviral therapy with oral drugs, which are prescribed for patients with early symptoms of infection, Tuesday, March 23.

The COVID-19 vaccine producer together with Germany's BioNTech SA revealed that the drug candidate showed strong resistance to the SARS-CoV-2 virus that causes COVID-19, in laboratory trials.

Pfizer gave the drug its initial name, code PF-07321332. The way it works, by inhibiting a protease that prevents the virus from replicating itself in the cells of the human body.

"Protease inhibitors have been effective in treating other viral pathogens such as HIV and hepatitis C virus, either alone or in combination with other antivirals", said Pfizer.

Pfizer believes this class of molecules can provide a well-tolerated treatment against COVID-19. This is because existing therapies, which work on the same path, have not reported safety concerns.

In addition, Pfizer is also studying antiviral candidates given intravenously in early-stage trials of COVID-19 patients hospitalized.

"Together, the two (oral and intravenous candidates) have the potential to create an end-to-end treatment paradigm that complements vaccination, in cases where the disease still occurs", said Pfizer Chief Medical Officer Mikael Dolsten.

Prior to Pfizer, two other oral antiviral therapies were already in the intermediate trial phase. Respectively, namely, Merck & Co with Ridgeback Bio and the second from Roche Holding and Atea Pharmaceuticals.

Gilead Sciences' Remdesivir is currently the only drug approved by the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for the treatment of COVID-19. In addition, the FDA has granted emergency authorization for intravenous therapy only of Eli Lilly, bamlanivimab and in combination with etesevimab, as well as combination therapy from Regeneron.