PFIZER Inc. disclosed on Monday that the company has began a mid- to late-stage study testing of an oral antiviral drug aimed to prevent COVID-19 infections among those who have been exposed in the virus.
Together with its rivals, the US based Merck & Co Inc. and Swiss pharmaceutical Roche Holding AG, are in a race to produce the first antiviral pill to combat COVID-19.
Pfizer stated that it would test the drug, PF-07321332, to 2,660 healthy adults aged 18 and above who live in the same household with a confirmed symptomatic patient.
The PF-07321332 will undergo a trial with a low dose of ritonavir, a medication used to treat HIV infection.
According to Merck and Ridgeback Biotherapeutics, they already enrolled patients in a late stage trial of the experimental drug molnupiravir for the prevention of COVID-19 earlier this month.
Pfizer, on the other hand, said that they already had began the trial earlier this month for the PF-07321332 to treat symptomatic adult patients who are not hospitalized.
(PHOTO CREDIT: reuters.com)