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March 24, 2021

Pfizer begins human testing on new COVID pill

PHOTO | TYLER RUSSELL/CONNECTICUT PUBLIC Pfizer's campus in Groton.
By Natalie Missakian

Pfizer Inc. is looking to follow up on its successful COVID-19 vaccine with a pill that people could take when they’re first infected to prevent a severe case of the disease.

The drug giant, which has a large Connecticut presence, announced this week that it has begun human testing on the pill, which can prevent the virus from making copies of itself within a cell. 

The drug has been described as a potential game changer because it would be easy to administer and accessible to more people. Most available COVID treatments must be given intravenously and are limited to patients who are hospitalized or at high risk for severe symptoms. 

“Tackling the COVID-19 pandemic requires both prevention via vaccine and targeted treatment for those who contract the virus,”  said Chief Scientific Officer Dr. Mikael Dolsten in a statement. “Given the way that SARS-CoV-2 is mutating and the continued global impact of COVID-19, it appears likely that it will be critical to have access to therapeutic options both now and beyond the pandemic.”

The drug is a protease inhibitor that binds to a viral enzyme to prevent the virus from replicating. Similar drugs have been generally safe and effective at treating other viruses like HIV and hepatitis C, Pfizer said.

Pfizer said the drug showed potent antiviral activity against SARS-CoV-2 as well as other coronaviruses in preclinical lab studies.

The Phase 1 study, which is being conducted in the U.S., will examine the drug’s safety and tolerability in healthy adults. 

Pfizer is also conducting human testing on a protease inhibitor that would be administered intravenously.

Contact Natalie Missakian at news@newhavenbiz.com

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