Pfizer announces the start of clinical trials on a new antiviral drug for the treatment of Covid-19. The compound, PF-07321332, is an inhibitor of the protease enzyme that is administered by mouth and in in vitro studies has shown “powerful activity” against the pandemic coronavirus, reports the American giant.
“After the initial promising preclinical data – writes on Twitter the CEO of Pfizer, Albert Bourla – we are pleased to share the start of administration in healthy adults, as part of a phase 1 trial that aims to evaluate safety and tolerability. of our new oral antiviral candidate against Sars-CoV-2 infections “.
The trial is underway in the US, Pfizer explains in a note. PF-07321332 and the results of preclinical tests, the group informs, will be presented on April 6 in a session dedicated to Covid-19 during the Spring American Chemical Society meeting.
“We designed PF-07321332 as a potential oral therapy that could be prescribed at the first sign of infection, without requiring patients to be hospitalized or in intensive care,” said Mikael Dolsten, Pfizer’s Chief Scientific Officer and President of Worldwide Research, Development and Medical. At the same time, Pfizer’s intravenous antiviral candidate, “another study drug,” is a potential new treatment option for hospitalized patients. Together, the two antivirals have the potential to create a treatment paradigm that integrates the vaccination in cases where the disease occurs “.
“Tackling the Covid-19 pandemic requires both prevention tools such as the vaccine and targeted treatment for those who contract the infection – underlines Dolsten – Considering the way in which Sars-CoV-2 is changing and the ongoing global impact of Covid- 19, it seems likely that it will be crucial to have access to treatment options both now and beyond the pandemic. “