NBC News: FDA authorizes first Covid pill, from Pfizer, for emergency use
The authorization marks “a major step forward” in the pandemic, Dr. Patrizia Cavazzoni, director of the agency’s Center for Drug Evaluation and Research, said in a statement.
“This authorization provides a new tool to combat Covid-19 at a crucial time in the pandemic as new variants emerge and promises to make antiviral treatment more accessible to patients who are at high risk for progression to severe Covid-19,” she said.
In the last 72 hours, the federal government
1. ordered 500 million at-home tests
2. green-lit the Pfizer antiviral drug
3. developed an all-variant COVID vaccine for Phase 1 trialsImagine if we could build a whole government out of this pre-holiday energy!
— Derek Thompson (@DKThomp) December 22, 2021
Some great news that we desperately need. An in-depth assessment of the 1st potent and safe anti-Covid pillhttps://t.co/qClag5KjUy
— Eric Topol (@EricTopol) December 16, 2021
NEW: The FDA has authorized the first antiviral pill to treat COVID-19 at home.
The pill is made by Pfizer. It's taken twice a day for five days in combination with a second medicine called ritonavir, a generic antiviral. https://t.co/os7CvTr9bU
— NPR Politics (@nprpolitics) December 22, 2021
