Chinese medical regulator announced on Saturday that it has granted conditional approval for Pfizer’s COVID-19 drug Paxlovid, making it the first oral tablet developed in the country to treat the COVID disease.
The National Medical Products Administration said that the adult patients who have mild to moderate COVID symptoms the drug can be used to treat them. It further added that the drug needs further study and needs to be handed over to the authority.
It is not immediately clear whether China is already in talks with Pfizer to buy the pill. Pfizer did not respond to Reuters’ request for comment. The approval is a boost for Pfizer which expects $22 billion in sales of the treatment in 2022.
An executive of Pfizer share the information that the company continues talking with over 100 countries about the Paxlovid and the company is capable to provide 120 million courses if needed.
While there are many vaccines available around the world to help prevent infection and serious illness, including Pfizer’s vaccine, there are limited treatment options for people infected with COVID-19.
Pfizer said in December that it is analyzed in the trial results that it reduced the chance of hospitalization and death in COVID-19 patients by 89%, with the onset of symptoms at risk of serious illness. Treatment is given within three days, and up to 88% when given.
China did not approve any COVID-19 vaccine developed by any other country’s drug maker yet. But China vaccinated 87% of its population by Feb 7 using its own developed COVID-19 vaccine.
