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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider National devider DOH eyeing to procure Pfizer's COVID-19 pill Paxlovid

DOH eyeing to procure Pfizer's COVID-19 pill Paxlovid

Published Jan 5, 2022 09:13 pm

DOH

The Department of Health (DOH) said it is currently in talks with the representatives of US Pharmaceutical company Pfizer for possible procurement of the oral antiviral drug Paxlovid for the treatment of coronavirus disease (COVID-19).

"Ang team ng DOH nakipagpulong, nakipag-ugnayan kay Ambassador Babes Romualdez at kasama ang kinatawan ng Pfizer para naman doon sa ating pag-angkat ng Paxlovid (The DOH team has coordinated with Ambassador Babes Romualdez and with the Pfizer representative for the procurement of Paxlovid)," said DOH Secretary Francisco Duque III on Wednesday, Jan. 5.

"So iyan ay dadaan sa proseso at minamadali nga natin na makakuha na ang Pilipinas nitong mga epektibong mga gamot, pero siyempre padadaanin pa rin sa tamang proseso (That will still go through the process. We are fast tracking things in order for the Philippines to get these effective drugs, but of course it will still go through the right process)," he said.

"Pinag-usapan na kung ano ang pinakamabilis na pamamaraan na maka-secure tayo ng mga treatment course of Paxlovid (We are already discussing the fastest way to secure Paxlovid treatment courses)," he furthered.

The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has authorized the emergency use of Paxlovid "for the treatment of mild-to-moderate coronavirus disease (COVID-19)" among people aged 12 years old and above.

In a statement last December, Pfizer said that its antiviral pill is 89 percent effective in preventing hospitalizations and deaths in patients at high risk of severe illness---citing clinical trial results.

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Department of Health (DOH) PAXLOVID
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