Pfizer in talks with China for to market COVID-19 antiviral treatment: Report

Abigail Adcox

January 06, 11:56 AM January 06, 11:56 AM

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China is reportedly in discussions with Pfizer to secure a license for the U.S. drugmaker’s COVID-19 antiviral Paxlovid amid a surge in cases in the mainland.

China’s drug and medical devices regulator, the National Medical Products Administration, has been in talks with Pfizer to manufacture and distribute generic versions of Paxlovid since last month, according to Reuters.

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Paxlovid was found to reduce the risk of hospitalization and death by 89% for unvaccinated people with COVID-19 at higher risk for severe disease, per the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Upon news of the talks, Pfizer’s stock jumped up on Friday.

China has been experiencing an outbreak in cases that first started in December, as it departs from its “zero COVID” policies that conducted mass testing campaigns and forced millions into lockdowns since the start of the pandemic.

This is developing news.