(Reuters) – Pfizer Inc (NYSE 🙂 stated Wednesday that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration had approved the antiviral COVID-19 tablet. It will be the first treatment at home for the coronavirus and is anticipated to play an important role in the battle against Omicron, which is rapidly spreading.

Pfizer clinical trials data showed that its antiviral two-drug regimen was 95% effective at preventing deaths and hospitalizations among patients who are high-risk for severe illness. New lab results suggest that the drug is still effective against Omicron.

This agency approved the use of an oral drug to treat high-risk adults and children aged 12 or older with COVID-19 not in the hospital.

According to the company, it is ready to begin immediate deliveries in the U.S.A. It also raised its production projections from 80 million to 120 million by 2022 to increase its projected output to 120 million treatment courses.

Priced at $530 each course, the U.S. government has contracted for 10,000,000 courses of Pfizer’s drug.

Paxlovid will sell the Pfizer tablets, which are taken together with the antiviral drug Ritonavir. These pills should be taken for five consecutive days, beginning as soon as symptoms begin.

Pfizer indicated that they plan to submit a new drug request with FDA in 2022, for possible full regulatory approval.