Corona glimmer of hope: Federal government is likely to secure purchase options for Pfizer pills in the millions
Created: 12/25/2021, 11:55 AM
From: Julia Volkenand
Knight in shining armor?
The drug Paxlovid.
© picture alliance / dpa / Pfizer
Pfizer's corona drug is said to be an important step in the fight against pandemics.
According to a report, the federal government has now secured purchase options worth millions.
Berlin - The corona drug Paxlovid from the US pharmaceutical giant Pfizer is set to become one of the building blocks in the fight against the coronavirus.
But Pfizer is not alone with its corona pill.
The federal government is now said to have secured purchase options worth several million, reports
Business Insider
and cites exclusive information.
You have up to seven drugs in view, not just that from Pfizer, it says.
Corona pill: The federal government is said to have secured purchase options in the millions
Paxlovid had only received US approval for high-risk patients in a fast-track process by the US agency FDA on Thursday. A spokesman for the Federal Ministry of Health also asserted that Germany was "in negotiations to secure quotas for Germany" and wanted to make a supply of the drug possible as soon as possible, reported the AFP agency. As
Business Insider
claims to have found out, however, the federal government has already secured an option to purchase Paxlovid tablets by means of a “Memorandum of Understanding” - and that in seven-figure amounts.
Covid patients 12 years and older could then be treated with the drug, provided they have mild to moderate symptoms and there is a high risk that they could get worse, the FDA said.
You can then take it immediately if you show signs of infection.
In the US, the drug is said to be available on prescription, but remain free.
However, the drug is not a substitute for a vaccination.
Approval from the European Medicines Agency (EMA) is currently pending, but the Pfizer pill is also seen as very promising in Europe.
Pfizer's corona drug receives emergency approval
After approval, the funds should be used in Germany primarily for high-risk patients - for example, for patients over 60 years of age and for people with ailments such as obesity and diabetes, said the ministry spokesman.
The ministry referred to AFP findings from the US, according to which paxlovid reduced the risk of hospitalization or death in high-risk patients by 88 percent.
The Ministry of Health pointed out that the European Medicines Agency (EMA) had already started “evaluation processes with the aim of approval” for the Pfizer drug.
The federal government is also currently negotiating the purchase of other drugs.
A spokesman for the Ministry of Health confirmed to the
AFP
news
agency
on Thursday that
one of the means at issue is the drug Lagevrio, which is manufactured by the US company MSD
.
Business Insider claims
to have found out that the federal government has already contractually secured the purchase options.