According to reports, Pfizer’s plans to develop an antiviral pill to fight and prevent COVID-19 was rolled out in March 2021 and have been in development mode ever since.
The antiviral pill is being planned in a manner which could help people completely ward off their COVID-19 risk, if they happen to come in contact with someone who tests positive for the virus, or has suspected COVID-19 symptoms. The antiviral therapy, developed in a similar manner to how preventive HIV-AIDS and Influenza pills work, aims at stopping or effectively slowing down the production of enzymes which facilitate viral growth and reproduction once the virus infects the body.
The trial will test the safety and efficacy of the pill with ritonavir, another antiviral widely used to treat HIV. It works in a way that it stops the virus at the early stages, so that there is miniscule chances for the contagion to spread and cause a potential infection. The drug is planned to be administered at the first signs of infection, just when the virus enters so that there remain minimal chances of infection, or if at all the infection has spread, causing a severe infection. Thus, it is being targeted towards people who have been in contact with COVID+ people specifically. Apart from that, Pfizer is also conducting another study to see how well the drug could work amongst those who have already developed an infection.
There are two similar drugs developed by Merck & Co. and Ridgeback Biotherapeutics and Roche and Atea Pharmaceuticals, in different stages of planning.