Covid-19 Pill Race Heats Up as Japanese Firm Vies With Pfizer, Merck

[brooklynite]

Source: Wall Street Journal

A Japanese company has started human trials of the first once-a-day pill for Covid-19 patients, joining Pfizer Inc. and Merck & Co. in the race to find treatments for the disease.

Osaka-based Shionogi & Co., which helped develop the blockbuster cholesterol drug Crestor, said it designed its pill to attack the Covid-19 virus. It said the once-a-day dosing would be more convenient. The company said it is testing the drug and any side effects in trials that began this month and are likely to continue until next year.

Shionogi is months behind Pfizer and Merck, which have started later-stage tests of pills to treat Covid-19. Pfizer has said its twice-daily pill could be ready to hit the market as soon as this year. It is preparing to enroll more than 2,000 patients in a test of the antiviral pill combined with a booster antiviral drug against a placebo.

All three companies aim to fill one of the biggest gaps in fighting the pandemic. Vaccines remain effective at preventing serious illness from known strains of the Covid-19 virus including the contagious Delta strain, studies have shown. But some people don’t want to get vaccinated, and cases can occur for those who do get their shots.

Read more: https://www.wsj.com/articles/covid-19-pill-race-heats-up-as-japanese-firm-vies-with-pfizer-merck-11627205403

[BlueWavePsych]

1. Kick

[ffr]

2. "But some people don't want to get vaccinated" b/c they're afraid of needles.

Babies! Wimps! Losers!

[lark]

3. i hate needles, I still get vaccinations as needed, including one for Covid.

Don't look - it's easier that way - but get the freaking shot!

[HUAJIAO]

4. There already IS a pill for the disease,

which name I dare not state as the last time I did I got a hide..

[Bayard]

5. If they won't get vaccinated,

Why think they're going to take a pill?

Fauci is behind it. One more evil plot.

[brooklynite]

6. But you can mash it up and hide it in their baby food...

[KS Toronado]

8. LOL

[Mr. Sparkle]

7. Once a day and twice a day pills? That doesn't sound right

Last edited Mon Jul 26, 2021, 03:26 PM - Edit history (1)

on seconds thoughts, it sounds fine !

[Sapient Donkey]

9. I think it's like how it works with antibiotics

You take some pills daily over a course of a week or whatever. I’m not educated in that area, but it seems reasonable to me. Is there a reason why you’re skeptical?

[Mr. Sparkle]

10. You are right

and I'm wrong. After re-reading the article again, it does sound like a course treatment rather than a reoccurring daily intake of tablets, which was my initial take. My apologies !