On 16 November 2021, Pfizer declared that it would not receive payments on generics of its anti-Covid-19 pill destined for developing countries, as long as the disease remains classified as a "public health emergency of international concern".
On the same date, the American pharmaceutical leader filed an emergency application for approval of its new treatment with the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA).
The drug is to be taken orally and launched under the name Paxlovid. Clinical trial results indicate that it is 89% effective against severe forms of the disease.
Merck's oral anti-covid-19 drug Molnupiravir was approved in the UK on Thursday, 4 November 2021. A similar agreement to that of Pfizer had already been signed by Merck with the Medicines Patent Pool (MPP).