Pill

𝘕𝘰𝘷𝘦𝘮𝘣𝘦𝘳 11, 2021

The trending news over the last week has concerned a pill developed by Pfizer that is reported to slash the risk of being hospitalized or dying from covid-19.  To be effective, the pill needs to be taken within three days of developing symptoms, according to results released Friday by the pharmaceutical company.  In a study of more than 1,200 COVID-19 patients with a higher risk of developing serious illness, people who took the Pfizer pill were far less likely to end up in the hospital compared to people who got a placebo pill and none of the people who received the real pill died.  Ten of the people who got a placebo pill died.  Pfizer CEO Albert Bourla said in prepared remarks that the data suggest that if authorized the pill-based treatment could “eliminate up to nine out of ten hospitalizations.”  Infectious disease specialists stressed the pill was not a replacement for the vaccine

When I looked online, I found Pfizer is the leader when it comes to coronavirus vaccine prevention.  The company recently said it holds 74% of the US vaccine market and 80% of the European market.  With the pill, now Pfizer may be about to claim leadership in coronavirus treatment.  Pfizer reported quarter after quarter of billion-dollar vaccine sales ever since the product launched last December, and recently, lifted its annual revenue forecast for the vaccine to $36 billion, up from $33 billion.  Pfizer shares vaccine profit with partner BioNTech, but that still leaves the company with significant revenue.  According to advance purchase agreements signed so far, Pfizer expects to generate $29 billion in revenue from the vaccine next year.  Those are profits before the pill.

Paxlovid is Pfizer’s investigational coronavirus pill that has been found to cut the risk of hospitalization or death by 89% in the clinical trial.  Paxlovid acts by interfering with viral replication early in infection and that is why it should be prescribed for patients as soon as they are diagnosed with covid.  The pill can then be taken as a treatment at home.  Pfizer is not alone in development of a covid pill.  Merck presented positive data from a study of its investigational coronavirus pill last month and the FDA plans to hold an advisory committee meeting on November 30 to discuss Merck’s submission.  Merck’s investigational pill reduced the risk of hospitalization or death by 50%.   While that is not as effective, it is still better than the odds without the pill.  Paxlovid is estimated to generate over $10 billion annually.

𝗧𝗵𝗼𝘂𝗴𝗵𝘁𝘀:  I found it interesting the information on both Pfizer and Merck where not on a government, news, or health advisory site, but instead were provided as some of the hottest stock picks for the coming year.  At least 223,944,369 people (68% of US) have received at least one dose of vaccine and 194,001,108 people (59% of US) have been fully vaccinated.  Those figures are for the US, and do not include figures worldwide.  All these vaccinations have been delivered as no cost, but that does not mean they were free.  Each shot costs around $40, not including any cost to deliver the shot.  This is paid for through a combination of government and private insurance plans.  Big Pharma is making huge profits during the pandemic and will do so for years to come.  Even now they are fighting with the government over patent rights the government helped them obtain.  Amid a global pandemic, it seems a tough pill to swallow.  Do the work.  Follow the science. Change is coming and it starts with you.