Pfizer agrees to allow its Covid-19 pill to be made and sold in 95 countries

Mangalore Today News Network

New Delhi, Nov 16, 2021: US pharmaceutical giant Pfizer Inc. has inked an agreement with a UN-backed group to permit other manufacturers to make and supply its experimental Covid-19 pill for use in 95 countries.

 

This is a significant move which could make Covid-19 treatment available to over half of the world’s population.

Pfizer, in a statement issued on Tuesday, stated that it would grant a license for the antiviral pill to Geneva-based Medicines Patent Pool that would allow generic drug firms to produce the pill for use in the 95 countries that make up about 53 per cent of the world’s population.

Some large countries which have witnessed devastating Covid-19 outbreaks have been excluded from the deal.

"Pfizer remains committed to bringing forth scientific breakthroughs to help end this pandemic for all people. We believe oral antiviral treatments can play a vital role in reducing the severity of Covid-19 infections, decreasing the strain on our healthcare systems and saving lives,” said Albert Bourla, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Pfizer.

“We must work to ensure that all people regardless of where they live or their circumstances have access to these breakthroughs, and we are pleased to be able to work with MPP to further our commitment to equity," he added.
“This license is so important because, if authorized or approved, this oral drug is particularly well-suited for low- and middle-income countries and could play a critical role in saving lives, contributing to global efforts to fight the current pandemic,” said Charles Gore, Executive Director of MPP.

Health officials said the fact that the deal was struck even before Pfizer’s pill was authorised anywhere, could help to end the pandemic quicker.

“It’s quite significant that we will be able to provide access to a drug that appears to be effective and has just been developed, to more than 4 billion people,” Esteban Burrone, head of policy at the MPP, said.

He estimated that other drugmakers would be able to start producing the pill within months, but acknowledged the agreement wouldn’t please everyone.

Courtesy:India Today