Key highlights:
- Paxlovid versions will be sold by several generic drug makers at $25 a course or less.
- The U.S. government for about is receiving the five-day course of Paxlovid for $530 by Pfizer.
- Paxlovid has proven to be significantly better than Merck & Co’s rival antiviral pill molnupiravir in the clinical trial.
Pfizer’s COVID-19 antiviral treatment Paxlvoid version will be sold by several generic drug makers at $25 a course or less. This was confirmed by the Clinton Health Access Initiative (CHAI) but it could not disclose the names of the manufacturers that have agreed to the price ceiling. As the drug is still in the early stage of product development and has not received regulatory approval.
Around 35 generic drug makers across the world have signed to make a cost-effective version of Pfizer’s pills for 95 poorer countries through a licensing arrangement with the U.N.-backed Medicines Patent Pool (MPP).
The U.S. government for about is receiving the five-day course of Paxlovid for $530 by Pfizer.
COVID vaccine demands
CHAI also stated that drug makers can dedicate a capacity of 4.5 million treatment courses a month for these countries. It was also confirmed that the $25 price ceiling will only be applied if there is demand from the poorer countries for around 1 million treatment courses a year. If the price needs to be guaranteed there needs to be at least 50,000 courses.
“We plan to work with donors and governments to raise funds for an advance purchase agreement for the product to meet country needs,” shared in a statement by CHAI.
Fight against COVID
In the fight against COVID, Paxlovid will be an essential vaccine. After the clinical trial, it has reduced the need for hospitalization for high-risk patients by around 90% when taken after five-days shortly after the symptoms.
Paxlovid has proven to be significantly better than Merck & Co’s rival antiviral pill molnupiravir in the clinical trial. The generic course of molnupiravir is expected to range around $20 in poorer nations compared with the roughly $700 per course.
