Mankind is strengthening its arsenal against the coronavirus. After Britain, which becomes the first country to administer the antiviral drug of the pharmaceutical company Merck, today, Friday, the pharmaceutical giant Pfizer announced that it has developed a pill that reduces hospitalizations and deaths in high-risk patients by 89%.
Pfizer chief Albert Burla spoke of “a great day for humanity” in an interview with CNN, detailing the innovative drug.
The interview in detail
ALBERT BOURLA – CEO Pfizer
I think these are great days for humanity. In fact, the news comes almost a year after the day we announced another important innovation. On November 9 last year we announced the discovery of the vaccine, and today we announce the pill for the treatment of those who have contracted the disease. It is very important. It means that out of this group of patients instead of 10 going to the hospital, only one will go and very few or none will die. So, using this pill will save many millions of lives.
JOHN BERMAN – CNN Reporter
When do you think the pill will be approved?
ALBERT BOURLA
We will apply (for approval) as soon as possible. We hope to make a request before Thanksgiving (25/11).
CNN reporter
How many pills of this kind can you produce in the near future? When will we see the market filled with pills?
ALBERT BOURLA
We expect to produce 500 million pills next year, which means 50 million treatments. Each treatment is for five days, two pills a day, one in the morning and one in the evening.
CNN reporter
How many will we have in January 2022?
ALBERT BOURLA
I can not say exactly for January or February, but in the first half of the year I expect about half of the 50 million so, maybe a little less than 25 million.
CNN reporter
You do not test anymore, you stopped them, right?
ALBERT BOURLA
In fact, we stopped researching research into high-risk patients, those with comorbidities, and other illnesses.
together with the coronavirus.
We are continuing the trials in two other studies, which we will know about in early 2022. The first is for patients, without subjects (diseases). People who have had COVID but do not have, for example, diabetes or cardiovascular problems other than COVID.
The other (research) has to do with the protection of contacts, for example, if someone gets stuck, we give a pill not only to the patient, but also to the people who live with him.
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