Fewer than one percent of patients taking the drug needed to be admitted to the hospital and no one died.
In the comparison group, seven percent were admitted to the hospital and there were seven deaths.
Study participants were unvaccinated, with mild-to-moderate COVID-19, and were considered high risk for hospital admission due to health problems such as obesity, diabetes or heart disease.
Dr Mikael Dolsten, Pfizer’s chief scientific officer, said: “We were hoping that we had something extraordinary, but it’s rare that you see great drugs come through with almost 90 percent efficacy and 100 percent protection for death.”
The Pfizer pill is combined with a low dose of another antiviral pill used to treat HIV/Aids.
Three pills are taken twice a day for five days within three to five days of initial Covid symptoms.
Although the full trial data is not yet available to the public, the company is planning on submitting the trial results to the US Food and Drug Administration as part of an emergency use application.
Following the application, health regulators in the US and the UK could make a decision within weeks.
READ MORE: Pfizer announces ‘significant investment into new vaccine technology
“Incredible results from Pfizer showing their antiviral medicine cuts the risk of hospitalisation or death from COVID-19 by almost 90 percent.
“We have procured 250,000 doses of this promising treatment on behalf of the whole UK and our independent medicines regulator, the MHRA, will now assess its safety, quality and effectiveness.
“If approved, this could be another significant weapon in our armoury to fight the virus alongside our vaccines and other treatments, including molnupiravir.”
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