Pfizer, NIH Mulling Study For Longer Paxlovid Course To Combat Reinfections

• The U.S. National Institutes of Health and Pfizer Inc (NYSE: PFE) are discussing testing a longer course of COVID-19 antiviral treatment Paxlovid, required to prevent reinfections, White House Chief Medical Officer Anthony Fauci said.

• "We're going to be planning what studies we're going to be doing relatively soon, within the next few days," to determine whether a longer course is needed, Fauci said during a White House COVID-19 briefing.

• White house estimates that about 20,000 prescriptions of Paxlovid are being given out every day.

• Also Read: COVID-19 Symptoms Rebound After Pfizer's COVID-19 Therapy, What Could Be The Reason?

• Pfizer has suggested that a second five-day course of Paxlovid could treat reinfections. The FDA said there is currently no evidence to support taking a second five-day course or a 10-day course of the pills.

• In Pfizer's clinical trial, around 2% of recipients who received the two-drug treatment saw an increase in viral load after completing the standard course, compared with around 1.5% of placebo recipients.

• Price Action: PFE shares are up 0.07% at $50.44 during the market session on the last check Thursday.

See more from Benzinga

• Read Why Pfizer Is Limiting Supply Of Paxlovid For Combination Studies: Bloomberg

• The Daily Biotech Pulse: Pfizer/BioNTech's COVID-19 Booster For Kids, Moderna Starts First African Trial Of mRNA HIV Vaccine, Tonix Extends COVID-19 Antiviral Research Pact

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