Pfizer’s new at-home pill to treat Covid could be available by end of the year, CEO hopes

CNBC ^ | 04/28/2021 | Berkeley Lovelace Jr.

[SeekAndFind]

* Pfizer’s experimental oral drug to treat Covid-19 at the first sign of illness could be available by the end of the year, CEO Albert Bourla told CNBC on Tuesday.

* The drug is part of a class of medicines called protease inhibitors and works by inhibiting an enzyme that the virus needs to replicate in human cells.

* Protease inhibitors are used to treat other viral pathogens such as HIV and hepatitis C.

Pfizer’s experimental oral drug to treat Covid-19 at the first sign of illness could be available by the end of the year, CEO Albert Bourla told CNBC on Tuesday.

The company, which developed the first authorized Covid-19 vaccine in the U.S. with German drugmaker BioNTech, began in March an early stage clinical trial testing a new antiviral therapy for the disease. The drug is part of a class of medicines called protease inhibitors and works by inhibiting an enzyme that the virus needs to replicate in human cells.

Protease inhibitors are used to treat other viral pathogens such as HIV and hepatitis C.

If clinical trials go well and the Food and Drug Administration approves it, the drug could be distributed across the U.S. by the end of the year, Bourla told CNBC’s “Squawk Box.”

Health experts say the drug, taken by mouth, could be a game changer because people newly infected with the virus could use it outside of hospitals. Researchers hope the medication will keep the disease from progressing and prevent hospital trips.

In addition to the drug, Pfizer is still testing its vaccine in 6-month to 11-year-old children. Vaccinating children is crucial to ending the coronavirus pandemic, public health officials and infectious disease experts say.

[brownsfan]

Pass.

[1Old Pro]

A Pill like disinfectant, somewhere I herd this solution pondered a year ago... "And then I see the disinfectant, where it knocks it out in one minute. And is there a way we can do something like that, by injection inside or almost a cleaning, because you see it gets in the lungs and it does a tremendous number on the lungs, so it’d be interesting to check that, so that you’re going to have to use medical doctors with, but it sounds interesting to me. So, we’ll see, but the whole concept of the light, the way it kills it in one minute. That’s pretty powerful."

[VastRWCon]

Does it give you a good buzz?

[E. Pluribus Unum]

Can’t use anything that is no longer under patent because shut up.

[unixfox]

If clinical trials go well and the Food and Drug Administration approves it, the drug could be distributed across the U.S. by the end of the year, Bourla told CNBC’s “Squawk Box.”

Waddya bet the FDA doesn't approve it. They DO NOT want to lose control.

[castowell]

This product is going to be a game-changer. So, look for the FDA/CDC/Harris administration to not approve it: https://sanotize.com/covid-19/

[Revel]

How long before the government just puts it in your food without your consent.

[RBW in PA]

They should put this much effort into curing cancer. COVID was not a crisis but an opportunity to rig an election, control people, advance global agendas and make enormous profits. I honestly believe that political and corporate leaders have no integrity. Would welcome the opportunity to publicly debate anyone of them. However, by controlling the media honest debate rarely occurs and we are given agenda driven talking points.

[usconservative]

How long before the government just puts it in your food without your consent.

You mean like fluoride in water?

[Getready]

Its in phase 1 trials...still watching for safety and dosing ranges...long way to go.
Wonder why they havent reported trials with other protease inhibitors already being used for HIV? Or is this one they think they can market?

[BrexitBen]

Pfizer is probably going to incorporate a 50 cent Ivermectin pill into a placebo vaccine, and charge the federal government $ 15. a dose.

Those pharmaceutical companies are experts in the art of lobbying a limp-wristed Congress.

[A Navy Vet]

"The drug is part of a class of medicines called protease inhibitors and works by inhibiting an enzyme that the virus needs to replicate in human cells."

I wonder if this will work on influenza, and maybe the common cold. It could be a major breakthrough. I know Tamiflu works on the flu. Is it a protease inhibitor?

[RushingWater]

But big pharma or woke university labs won’t study what would be the safest drug for you? Ivermectin or protease inhibitor? I think I choose Ivermectin.

[dixie1202]

It will be HCQ under a different name.

[glorgau]

Is it made of zinc?

[Karl Spooner]

The drug is part of a class of medicines called protease inhibitors and works by inhibiting an enzyme that the virus needs to replicate in human cells.

Sounds like it's going to be a very expensive form of Ivermectin.

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[RushIsMyTeddyBear]

Bkmrk

[ETCM]

Its in phase 1 trials...still watching for safety and dosing ranges...long way to go. Wonder why they havent reported trials with other protease inhibitors already being used for HIV? Or is this one they think they can market?

Protease inhibitors are targeted at a specific enzyme, C3L in this case. Pfizer actually started working on a C3L protease inhibitor back in 2003 to treat SARS, but SARS went away and they shelved the project. There are other studies into C3L inhibitors against coronaviruses. The 2 C3L PI drugs Pfizer is working on (1 IV and 1 pill) could potentially work against all coronaviruses.

[kaehurowing]

Given Biden is in charge now, rather than Trump, it will be years.