(Reuters) – Thursday’s approval of the European Union’s drug regulator was approved Pfizer Inc (NYSE) has developed an antiviral pill called COVID-19 for adults at high risk of serious illness. This is as part of a regional effort to increase its weaponry against the Omicron variant.

If the European Commission follows as usual, the European Medicines Agency will endorse the conditional approval. This allows EU members to use the drug in an emergency situation.

Italy, Germany, Belgium and other EU countries have purchased the Paxlovid drug.

In December, the United States approved Paxlovid’s and Merck’s similar drug molnupiravir.

Merck’s pill, which is being reviewed in the EU as well, is still under review. But it is taking longer for approval because Merck has revised its trial data and stated that it was substantially less effective than initially thought.

Pfizer’s oral medications are promising and can be used at home to treat COVID-19 symptoms. This will help avoid hospitalisations or deaths.

According to clinical trials data, Paxlovid was almost 90% effective at preventing deaths and hospitalizations in high-risk patients with severe illnesses. New lab data suggest that the drug is still effective against Omicron variant.

However, the vaccine was not tested in the trial on any unvaccinated subjects. This raises questions about its use for high-risk patients, who were vaccinated. The endorsement of the EMA was not limited to those who were unvaccinated.

Late December, Germany ordered 1,000,000 courses. Karl Lauterbach, the health minister, stated that he expects the nation’s drug regulator before the end the month. The rollout will begin then.

Italy will be receiving 200,000 courses by February, and Italy has the possibility to purchase an additional 400,000.

In December, the United States approved Paxlovid’s drug-like Merck’s molnupiravir. This reduced hospitalizations and deaths by 30 percent in a clinical trial.