Deena Bearsley

(Reuters.) – Antiviral Rival Pills from Rival Pfizer Inc (NYSE:) and Merck & Co that demonstrated efficacy in trials of adults with COVID-19 who are at high risk of serious illness are now both in use. To determine whether they are able to prevent infections in those who have been exposed, the drugs will be studied.

This is how the pills differ.

Which new pill is better?

According to trial data, Pfizer appears to have the better pill.

Pfizer reported that final trials had shown that treatment for COVID-19 patients with severe illnesses reduced their risk of death and hospitalization by 89% if administered within the first three days. Treatments given after onset were also effective by 88%.

Merck announced in November that its complete trial results revealed that Molnupiravir reduced the risk of death or hospitalization in severe COVID patients who received the medication within 5 days of developing symptoms.

An earlier, interim look at Merck’s trial on Oct. 1 https://www.reuters.com/business/healthcare-pharmaceuticals/mercks-covid-19-pill-cuts-risk-death-hospitalization-by-50-study-2021-10-01 had suggested that molnupiravir halved the risk of hospitalization or death. Merck provided no figures about patients receiving the pill within 3 days.

Paxlovid is the brand name for Pfizer’s dual-drug program. Merck’s medication is known as Lagevrio.

These drugs are important for what?

There are many vaccines available to prevent serious infections and illness around the world, but there is limited treatment for COVID-19 patients.

Current treatment options for COVID-19 patients are to use antibody drugs. However, they must be administered intravenously in hospitals and/or infusion centers.

Antibodies created early during the pandemic were not effective against Omicron coronavirus variant. GlaxoSmithKline (NYSE) and Vir Biotechnology(NASDAQ:) have shown that Sotrovimab is effective in fighting the highly transmissible variant.

Gilead Sciences Inc Veklury (NASDAQ:) was approved by U.S. regulators to be used as an intravenous infusion of remdesivir for COVID patients at high risk. It was found that it reduces their likelihood of being hospitalized by 87%.

They work.

Each oral treatment lasts for 5 days. Pfizer uses three pills each morning and three in the evening. Merck’s drug can be taken in four tablets at night and four in the morning.

Pfizer’s medication is part of the protease inhibitors class. It blocks an enzyme needed for coronavirus to grow. Combining it with ritonavir is a more traditional antiviral. However, this can increase the activity of protease inhibitors and cause gastrointestinal side effect. It may also interfere with some other drugs.

Merck’s pill was developed in collaboration with Ridgeback Biotherapeutics. It is a nucleoside antagonist with an action mechanism that attempts to insert errors into the DNA of the virus.

Laboratory studies have been conducted by both companies to confirm that pills they sell are effective against Omicron virus infections.

How safe is it?

The companies released limited information on treatments but stated their confidence in their safety.

Pfizer stated that 20% of the patients receiving either the placebo or pill in clinical trials suffered from mild side effects. One-sixth of the patients who took the drug were diagnosed with serious side effects. 6.6% of those taking placebo had reported such adverse reactions.

Paxlovid’s ritonavir can interact with some other medicines, so doctors recommend that all patients have a complete list of their medications before prescribing the Pfizer drug.

Merck stated that 12% and 11% respectively of those who received its drugs experienced adverse effects.

Animal studies have shown that birth defects can be caused by drugs in the same category as Merck’s pill. Merck stated that similar tests of Molnupiravir, which was administered at higher dosages and for longer periods than in humans, have not shown any cancerous effects.

Molnupiravir cannot be prescribed for patients under the age of 18 in America. It can cause bone and cartilage loss. This medication is not approved for use in pregnancy.

According to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, both women and men of child bearing age should use reliable birth control when taking Merck drugs. Pregnant women cannot take it.

What can we learn about supply?

Pfizer and Merck both stated they were working to improve global access, which includes the possibility for generic drugmakers to be able to market lower-cost versions of their drugs in countries with low income.

Pfizer claims it will be producing up to 120 millions courses of its therapy each year.

Merck stated that it is capable of producing at least 20,000,000 units this year.

Which one is more costly?

For residents of the United States, vaccines and treatment for COVID-19 are provided free by the government. Pfizer is and Merck are in negotiations with countries all over the world to negotiate prices.

For each Paxlovid course, the United States pays approximately $530 and $700 respectively.