The U.S. Food and Drug Administration this evening (Wednesday) granted emergency approval for Pfizer's drug to Corona.
Pfizer reported last week that laboratory tests have shown that its antiviral pill is also effective against the omicron variant.
According to Pfizer, the pill is 89% effective in preventing death and serious illness in adults, while reducing the risk of hospitalization.
Also, in the study population no deaths were reported as a result of receiving the pill.
Will the pill be used by patients who are not at risk?
The pill will be used in combination with an old antiviral drug called Ritonavir and is intended for patients at risk.
The combined treatment, will be called Paxlovid and will consist of three pills given twice a day.
Pfizer examined hospitalizations and deaths among people diagnosed with coronavirus with at least one risk factor for developing a serious illness, such as old age.
It was found that only 0.8% of the patients who received Pfizer's drug within three days of the onset of symptoms were hospitalized and none of them died.
Rates were similar for patients treated within five days.
The company said it expects to produce more than 180,000 packages by the end of 2021, and at least 50 million packages by the end of 2022, of which 21 million were produced in the first half.
Pfizer is also examining whether the pill can also be used by people without risk factors.
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