Pfizer Starts Early-Stage Study Of Oral Antiviral COVID-19 Drug

Pfizer Inc PFE has started an early-stage U.S. trial of an oral COVID-19 antiviral therapy, dubbed as PF-07321332.

  • The drugmaker, which developed the first authorized COVID-19 vaccine in the U.S. with Germany's BioNTech SE BNTX, said the antiviral candidate showed potent activity against SARS-CoV-2 in lab studies.
  • The Phase 1 study progressed to multiple ascending doses after completing the dosing of single ascending doses in healthy adults.
  • PF-07321332 is a protease inhibitor that prevents the virus from replicating in cells.
  • The company is also studying an intravenously administered antiviral candidate in an early-stage trial in hospitalized COVID-19 patients.
  • Pfizer's candidate is behind two other oral antiviral therapies, which are in mid-stage trials:
    •  Molnupiravir - in development by Merck & Co MRK with Ridgeback Bio. Recent interim data showed that the antiviral significantly reduced the infectious virus in COVID-19 patients after five treatment days.
    • Roche Holdings AG RHHBY and Atea Pharmaceuticals Inc AVIR are developing AT-527 in mild or moderate COVID-19 patients in an outpatient setting. The first patient was dosed in February
  • Gilead Sciences' remdesivir is currently the only FDA-approved drug for the treatment of COVID-19.
  • The FDA granted an emergency authorization to intravenous therapies from Eli Lilly bamlanivimab alone and in combination with etesevimab, and a combination therapy from Regeneron.
  • Price Action: PFE shares are trading 0.97% lower at $35.65 in market hours on the last check Tuesday.
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