Canada approves Pfizer’s Covid-19 pill but global shortages impede supply
Access to antiviral treatment urgent as Covid-19 infections rise, says chief public health officer
17 January 2022 - 22:59
byDavid Ljunggren and Ismail Shakil
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Pfizer's Covid-19 pill at a factory in Ascoli, Italy. Picture: PFIZER/REUTERS
Ottawa — Canada on Monday approved Pfizer’s oral antiviral treatment for mild to moderate cases of Covid-19 in adults, but said global supply shortages meant only a few doses would be ready now.
Rising infections and hospitalisations due the Omicron variant are forcing provinces to put in restrictions and the federal government to support affected businesses. Officials predict Covid-19 cases will increase in the coming weeks.
"(This approval) is particularly important, as access to easy to use treatments could help to reduce the severity of Covid-19 in adults who become newly infected,” chief public health officer Theresa Tam said.
Ottawa said in December it had signed a deal with Pfizer for a million treatment courses, pending approval. A global shortage means only a fraction will arrive soon.
Canada has received 30,400 courses and officials said it will take delivery of another 120,000 by end-March.
“We’re among the first countries to have approved the medication but also to have received the medication ... competition is high and we are doing a good job,” federal health minister Jean-Yves Duclos told a separate briefing.
Pfizer’s two-drug antiviral regimen, Paxlovid, was nearly 90% effective in preventing hospitalisations and deaths in patients at high risk of severe illness, according to clinical trial data.
It is meant to be taken at home for five days beginning shortly after onset of symptoms.
Ontario, the most populous of the 10 provinces, is seeing signs Omicron cases may have peaked, chief medical officer Kieran Moore told an Ottawa radio station.
Official data show that as of January 8, 87.8% of Canadians aged 12 and older had received two doses of a Covid-19 vaccine.
The US authorised the Pfizer treatment for people ages 12 and older deemed at risk of severe illness last month.
Canada is looking at whether to approve Merck’s oral antiviral pill, molnupiravir, which had less impressive results than Paxlovid in its pivotal clinical trial.
Support our award-winning journalism. The Premium package (digital only) is R30 for the first month and thereafter you pay R129 p/m now ad-free for all subscribers.
Canada approves Pfizer’s Covid-19 pill but global shortages impede supply
Access to antiviral treatment urgent as Covid-19 infections rise, says chief public health officer
Ottawa — Canada on Monday approved Pfizer’s oral antiviral treatment for mild to moderate cases of Covid-19 in adults, but said global supply shortages meant only a few doses would be ready now.
Rising infections and hospitalisations due the Omicron variant are forcing provinces to put in restrictions and the federal government to support affected businesses. Officials predict Covid-19 cases will increase in the coming weeks.
"(This approval) is particularly important, as access to easy to use treatments could help to reduce the severity of Covid-19 in adults who become newly infected,” chief public health officer Theresa Tam said.
Ottawa said in December it had signed a deal with Pfizer for a million treatment courses, pending approval. A global shortage means only a fraction will arrive soon.
Canada has received 30,400 courses and officials said it will take delivery of another 120,000 by end-March.
“We’re among the first countries to have approved the medication but also to have received the medication ... competition is high and we are doing a good job,” federal health minister Jean-Yves Duclos told a separate briefing.
Pfizer’s two-drug antiviral regimen, Paxlovid, was nearly 90% effective in preventing hospitalisations and deaths in patients at high risk of severe illness, according to clinical trial data.
It is meant to be taken at home for five days beginning shortly after onset of symptoms.
Ontario, the most populous of the 10 provinces, is seeing signs Omicron cases may have peaked, chief medical officer Kieran Moore told an Ottawa radio station.
Official data show that as of January 8, 87.8% of Canadians aged 12 and older had received two doses of a Covid-19 vaccine.
The US authorised the Pfizer treatment for people ages 12 and older deemed at risk of severe illness last month.
Canada is looking at whether to approve Merck’s oral antiviral pill, molnupiravir, which had less impressive results than Paxlovid in its pivotal clinical trial.
Reuters
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Data for Moderna’s Omicron-specific vaccine will probably be available in March
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