Pfizer has said it had begun a middle-to-late stage clinical trial of a pill to stave off Covid in people who are exposed to infection. Several companies are working on so-called oral antivirals, which would mimic what the drug Tamiflu does for influenza and prevent the disease from progressing to severe.
We believe that tackling the virus will require effective treatments for people who contract, or have been exposed to, the virus, complementing the impact that vaccines have had,” said Mikael Dolsten, the company’s chief scientific officer.
Pfizer started developing its drug, called PF-07321332, in March 2020 and is testing it in combination with ritonavir, a repurposed HIV medicine. Other companies are also testing existing oral antivirals against Covid but Pfizer’s is the first specifically designed against the coronavirus.
It is known as a “protease inhibitor” and has been shown in lab testing to jam up the virus’ replication machinery. If it works in real life, it will likely only be effective at the early stages of infection. By the time Covid progresses to severe disease, the virus has largely stopped replicating and patients suffer from an over-active immune response.
Source: eNCA
In other news – Zozibini Tunzi to be backstage co-host for Miss SA
Zozibini Tunzi is to be a backstage co-host for Miss SA 2021. Following a fun-filled weekend, the model takes to social media to announce her latest gig bagged.
What’s exciting for Zozi is the fact that she’s been crowned Miss SA and Miss Universe, and she’s back to co-host same show she was formerly announced winner. Learn more
