Manila Mayor Francisco “Isko Moreno” Domagoso on Tuesday, Jan. 18, said the city government will procure the antiviral drug Bexovid, the first generic version of Pfizer’s Paxlovid.

In a Facebook live, Domagoso said the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has already granted the city's application for a compassionate special permit for the procurement of Bexovid.

“Ako po ay nagpapasalamat sa ating mga kaibigan sa FDA at kanilang inaksyunan ng mabilis ang ating application. Hindi natin basta-basta magagamit ang mga gamot na ito sa COVID kung wala tayong CSP. (I am grateful to the FDA that it acted quickly on our application. We can’t just use these drugs on COVID if we don’t have a CSP),” he said.

“With the agency’s approval, pwede na natin maibigay sa mga pasyente kapagka dumating na ang ating advanced order (we can give it to patients when our advanced order arrives),” the Manila mayor added.

Both residents and non-residents of Manila are eligible to avail of the antiviral drug, Domagoso said.

“Katulad ng ating ‘open door’ policy, matutulungan ng makabagong gamot na ito ang sinumang nangangailangan. Walang pulitika dito sapagkat buhay ang mahalaga (Under our ‘open door’ policy, this innovative medicine can help anyone who is in need. There is no politics involved here because life matters),” he said.

Bexovid is believed to reduce the risk of hospitalization and death of COVID patients by by 88 to 89 percent when given within three to five days of symptom onset.

Individuals aged 12 years and above with mild to moderate symptoms may avail of the antiviral drug.

The city of Manila had earlier announced it has already placed an advanced order of Paxlovid from Pfizer.