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Pfizer Confirms Paxlovid’s High Efficacy And Reassures On Omicron

89% Relative Risk Reduction Confirmed

 
• By Andrew McConaghie

While Merck & Co’s Lagevrio’s results declined after an interim readout, Pfizer’s oral COVID-19 candidate Paxlovid has maintained its strong performance in protecting high-risk patients from hospitalization or death.

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Pfizer's Paxlovid could have a big impact on COVID-19 hospitalizations and deaths once authorized around the world • Source: Alamy

Pfizer’s antiviral Paxlovid has confirmed its efficacy in high-risk people with COVID-19, posting final trial data showing it reduced the risk of hospitalization and death in infected patients at high risk for progression to severe illness by 89% compared with placebo.

The readout announced on 14 December matches the 89% risk reduction seen in the interim data released on 5 November, and consolidates the position of Paxlovid (nirmatrelvir [PF-07321332] tablets and ritonavir tablets) as the most promising of two new oral COVID019 antivirals

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In Brief: Sanofi Commits $20bn To US R&D And Manufacturing By 2030

 
• By Sushmita Panda

Move by French major aligns with broader industry efforts to localize production amid political pressure, as Trump pushes to onshore manufacturing and hints at easing tariff threats.

Eisai Forecasts 73% Leqembi Sales Rise In FY25 As Demand Expands

 
• By Mandy Jackson

Eisai spent most of its FY24 earnings call discussing plans for growing sales of Biogen-partnered Alzheimer’s drug Leqembi from JPY44.3bn ($304.1m) to JPY76.5bn ($525.1m) in FY25.

UK-India FTA Could Offer ‘Significant Benefits’ For Generics, Biosimilars

 
• By Dave Wallace

A free trade agreement between the UK and India could offer “significant benefits for the generic and biosimilar sectors,” Medicines UK believes. The off-patent industry association has also suggested further avenues for collaboration between the two governments.

Will Other Major MASH Deals Follow GSK/Boston Pharma?

 
• By Joseph Haas

GSK’s $1.2bn payout for Boston Pharma’s efimosfermin is the first billion-dollar-plus MASH deal in nearly nine years, but several other advanced MASH programs could be positioned for takeout.

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Will Other Major MASH Deals Follow GSK/Boston Pharma?

 
• By Joseph Haas

GSK’s $1.2bn payout for Boston Pharma’s efimosfermin is the first billion-dollar-plus MASH deal in nearly nine years, but several other advanced MASH programs could be positioned for takeout.

Merck’s Welireg Adrenal Tumor Rollout Targets Specialized Centers

 
• By Alaric DeArment

The drugmaker won US FDA approval for the HIF-2α inhibitor in pheochromocytoma and paraganglioma, a rare cancer of the adrenal glands, in adolescents and adults.

Most Favored Nation Policy ‘Lazy, Misguided,’ But US Price Reforms Politically ‘Inevitable’

 
• By Cathy Kelly

Policy experts and pharma executives react to President Trump’s executive order on “equalizing” drug prices between the US and comparable nations at the ISPOR 2025 conference.