Generic version of anti-COVID-19 pill Paxlovid to be distributed in gov't hospitals

The Food and Drug Administration has granted the Department of Health's application for compassionate special permit for Bexovid, the generic and more affordable version of Pfizer's anti-COVID-19 Paxlovid.

FDA director general Dr. Oscar Gutierrez said the less pricey anti-viral would be distributed to government hospitals.

"Dahil ito po ay generic, ito po ay inaasahan po na mas mura ang cost of treatment compared to Paxlovid," Gutierrez reported in President Rodrigo Duterte's Talk to the People.

"The CSP po is given to DOH and the DOH will distribute this to government hospitals once it is supplied by Biocare Lifescience," he added.

Bexovid is the word's first generic version of the US FDA-approved brand Paxlovid made by Pfizer. Its generic name is nirmatrelvir and ritonavir.

According to Gutierrez's presentation, Bexovid is made by Beximco Pharm, Inc. and will be distributed in the Philippines by Biocare Lifescience, Inc.

The treatment is said to reduce the risk of hospitalization or death by 89% if given within 3 days of the onset of symptoms and by 88% if given within 5 days.

Gutierrez said the FDA met with Pfizer representatives on January 7. He said the firm is likely to file an application for an emergency use authority in the country in the last week of the month.

At present the FDA has given EUAs for the COVID-19 anti-viral drugs casirivimab and imdevimab or Ronapreve, and molnupiravir or Molnarz.

It has a certificate of product registration for remdesivir or Covifor. The registration allows the marketing or free distribution of the medicine.

Gutierrez said the CPR will eliminate the distribution of remdesivir in the black market for steep prices.

He said the FDA has received two product applications for self-administered COVID-19 test kits.

The government is looking at allowing self-test kits following the steep increase in COVID-19 cases over the past two weeks. —NB, GMA News