Government "Negotiating Purchase of Over 160,000 Doses of Pfizer Treatment 'Paxlovid'"

Pfizer's oral COVID-19 treatment, Paxlovid, is being produced in Ascoli, Italy.
[Image source=Reuters Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Lee Chun-hee] The government is pushing to purchase more than 160,000 doses of Pfizer's oral COVID-19 treatment, Paxlovid, which has been approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA).

On the 23rd, the government stated, "The practical negotiations for an additional purchase of 162,000 doses, including 70,000 doses under the purchase terms with Pfizer, have been completed, and we were at the stage of signing the contract." However, it added, "Considering the quarantine situation, further negotiations for additional purchases are underway."

Previously, the government announced that it was negotiating to pre-purchase 404,000 doses of oral treatments. Among these, 200,000 doses of Merck (MSD)'s Molnupiravir and 70,000 doses of Paxlovid have been secured, and negotiations with Merck, Pfizer, and Roche are ongoing for the remaining 134,000 doses. According to the government's announcement on this day, 42,000 doses are expected to be Molnupiravir and 92,000 doses Paxlovid. In addition, considering the quarantine situation, the government is pursuing additional procurement of Paxlovid.

One dose consists of 30 pills for Paxlovid and 40 pills for Molnupiravir. Both treatments are taken twice daily for five days, totaling 10 doses. Paxlovid is taken as 3 pills per dose, and Molnupiravir as 4 pills per dose.

On the 22nd (local time), the FDA granted emergency use authorization for Pfizer's oral treatment, Paxlovid. According to Pfizer's clinical trial results, Paxlovid showed 90% effectiveness in preventing hospitalization and death in COVID-19 patients, and its efficacy was maintained against the Omicron variant. Domestic approval procedures for oral treatments are also underway. The Ministry of Food and Drug Safety announced the day before that it has begun reviewing emergency use authorization for Paxlovid at the request of the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency. Molnupiravir also had its emergency use authorization requested last month and is under review.

Especially since Paxlovid has received FDA approval, rapid emergency use authorization is expected domestically as well. In this case, the government's goal to support oral treatments for elderly home care patients by next month is likely to become a reality. The government stated, "We will announce specific purchase quantities and timing considering the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety's emergency use authorization schedule."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.