Philippines signs confidential declaration agreement for Pfizer COVID-19 drug Paxlovid

The Philippines has signed a confidential declaration agreement (CDA) with US pharmaceutical company Pfizer for the procurement of COVID-19 antiviral drug Paxlovid, according to Food and Drug Administration (FDA) officer-in-charge (OIC) Dr. Oscar Gutierrez on Thursday.

Gutierrez said the CDA signed between Pfizer and the Philippine government through Health Secretary Francisco Duque III on January 4.

“Tomorrow po at 1 p.m., I will have a virtual meeting with the Pfizer company to discuss their plans for EUA [emergency use authorization] application and we will discuss timeline including FDA requirements po,” he said during President Rodrigo Duterte’s Talk to the People briefing.

Pfizer earlier announced that the US Food and Drug Administration authorized its antiviral COVID-19 pill, making it the first at-home treatment for the coronavirus that is expected to become an important tool in the fight against the fast-spreading Omicron variant.

Data from Pfizer's clinical trial showed its two-drug antiviral regimen was 90% effective in preventing hospitalizations and deaths in patients at high risk of severe illness.

Recent laboratory data suggests the drug retains its effectiveness against Omicron.

The US FDA authorized the oral drug for the treatment of high-risk adult patients and pediatric patients at least 12 years of age with COVID-19 outside of the hospital. — BM, GMA News