How Paxlovid Approval May Influence China's Pandemic Policies

New Focus on Treatments Not Vaccines?

16 Feb 2022

In a surprise move, China has conditionally approved Pfizer’s oral COVID-19 antiviral Paxlovid, a development that may have far-reaching consequences for the country's pandemic policies and domestic drug developers.

CHINA APPROVES PFIZER'S PAXLOVID BUT 'COVID ZERO' POLICY SHIFT NOT IN SIGHT • Source: Nielsen Hobbs; the Pink Sheet | Paxlovid EUA dispensing information

China's approval of Pfizer Inc.'s oral antiviral Paxlovid (nirmatrelvir/ritonavir), announced on 11 February, marked the first approval in the country of a COVID-19 drug from a foreign firm, and the move is expected to pave the way to potential easing of some of the most restrictive pandemic control measures in the world.

The approval of the 3CL protease inhibitor was for mild-to-moderate disease in adults with an elevated risk of developing severe...