Pfizer commences clinical trials for Covid pill

US pharmaceutical company Pfizer has commenced human trials for an oral pill that could stop patients from developing Covid-19 once they show symptoms.

The company announced on Tuesday the tests had commenced in the US. If successful, it could be the first early intervention that could allow for the treatment of Covid that could prevent the worsening of symptoms.

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The pill acts as an inhibitor and works similarly to drugs that treat diseases such as Hepatitis C or HIV.

The company has said its preclinical trials show a "potent in-vitro antiviral activity” against the virus that causes Covid-19 and has also been effective in tackling other types of coronavirus. This means it could be effective against later strains of the disease.

Mikael Dolsten, Pfizer's chief scientific officer, said: "Tackling the COVID-19 pandemic requires both prevention via vaccine and targeted treatment for those who contract the virus.

"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."

He added the pill could be prescribed to a patient at the first sign of infection, without the need for them to be hospitalised or placed in critical care.

Pfizer is due to share the information from the clinical trials on April 6 during an American Chemical Society meeting.

The company is also conducting research into intravenous antiviral therapy to treat Covid which is being tested on hospitalised patients.

Dolsten added the company was looking to create a treatment scheme that complements vaccination and offers complete care against the coronavirus.

He added there had been no unexpected problems with the phase one trials and expects results within weeks.

The trials themselves are randomised and includes placebo groups, like a number of other clinical trials conducted by the major pharmaceutical companies overseeing vaccinations.

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Coronavirus has infected 127 million people in total and killed a little under 3 million since the disease was first spotted in Wuhan, China, in December 2019.

Experts have said a large number of drugs and medical options will be needed in order to deal with the virus, but a number of countries are still lagging behind in terms of vaccinations.

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