COVID-19 pill: Pfizer plans to file for authorization by Thanksgiving
Yahoo Finance's Anjalee Khemlani talks about the emergence of Pfizer's pill-based treatment for COVID-19 still in testing and how President Biden's Build Back Better plan aims to lower Medicare and Medicaid prescription drug costs.
Video Transcript
EMILY MCCORMICK: But first, we're tracking the latest on the COVID-19 pandemic and Pfizer's newly announced antiviral pill designed to help treat the disease. Data last week showed Pfizer's pill cut the risk of hospitalization or death by 89% in high risk adults and we're welcoming in Yahoo Finance's Anjalee Khemlani for more on this topic. And Anjalee, what's the latest on Pfizer's antiviral pill and when might this actually seek authorization?
ANJALEE KHEMLANI: Well, Emily, we know that Pfizer has already planned to do that filing by Thanksgiving ideally, and they've already cut that trial short in order to make sure that they are filing and have that data to submit to the FDA. We know that this is really exciting news because it really adds to basically the pool of treatment that will be available to Americans here. We know that already Merck has had their pill out for authorization by the FDA. They just got authorization in the UK.
And that's approved to have 50% efficacy in preventing hospitalizations. Meanwhile, Pfizer's pill as you mentioned, 89% and is a 30-pill treatment or rather for a week and that's exactly what they're looking at. Is basically having early day treatment in order to prevent further hospitalizations and deaths. All of this of course, welcome news right now. And we're seeing the impact of this announcement.
We haven't yet seen the data as yet, but that is based on-- that information that we currently have is all based on what Pfizer has said in their press release recently. Meanwhile, we also know that a lot is going on of course, as we look at the infrastructure bill and what else is going on over in DC.
A lot of hope pinned on the Build Back Better plan, which is something that really hasn't had a lot of really oomph behind it just yet. We've seen a lot of things be discussed, but some reports have said that some of the ideas have been watered down. So what's in that really as we wait for moving past infrastructure and into BBB, is really looking at really some overhaul to the Medicaid funding and including home care.
Which is something that we've actually seen really pick up throughout the pandemic, and hoping for more funding behind that as well. Meanwhile, there's also the discussion of course, against lower drug pricing which everyone has their eyes on to see exactly how that will be done, especially as it relates to Medicare.
And one thing that often gets overlooked actually is the infrastructure for internet and the build up that is supposed to be done there because that actually plays a role in telehealth, so all eyes on that. Back to you.
EMILY MCCORMICK: All right. Yahoo Finance Health Reporter Anjalee Khemlani, thank you so much for breaking that down for us.
