Pfizer to test new drug against COVID in Russia

The American pharmaceutical company Pfizer received permission from Roszdravnadzor to conduct clinical trials in RUSSIA of the effectiveness of a new drug for the prevention of coronavirus. Vedomosti writes about it.

The state register of medicines states that citizens over 18 years of age who have been in contact with patients with symptomatic manifestations of coronavirus will take part in the trials. In total, 90 people will be attracted in the Moscow region, St. Petersburg , Smolensk, Barnaul and other cities.

We are talking about the drug Paxlovid (a protease inhibitor plus ritonavir). In early November, Pfizer announced the completion of the second phase of clinical trials of this drug. The company noted that the drug can reduce the risk of hospitalization or death by 89% after infection with coronavirus. They also said that among the participants in the trials of the drug, which is taken orally, there were no deaths recorded.

Pfizer is testing Paxlovid globally. A company representative explained to Vedomosti that 7,000 people from different countries, including Russia, are participating in them. If the drug is approved by local regulatory authorities, the company intends to ensure its availability in the markets of all these countries, he said.