On Wednesday, the FDA issued an Emergency Use Authorization for Pfizer’s antiviral drug treatment Paxlovid for use against COVID-19. Data from clinical trials indicated that when taken within five days after the onset of symptoms, the pill is 88% effective in reducing the chance of severe illness resulting in hospitalization. And, because the drug is available as a pill which is taken twice a day for five days, it’s not just a treatment that can be administered in a clinical setting. This EUA extends to at-home care. Pfizer says that it is “ready to start immediate delivery in the U.S.” That includes delivery of the 10 million doses that have been pre-purchased by the U.S. government. The drug is authorized for the use by those age 12 and older who are suffering mild to moderate symptoms, and who have tested positive for COVID-19. As the drug becomes available, the focus will be getting the drug to those most in danger of severe illness, but if the record of effectiveness and safety from the trials holds up in real-world tests against omicron and other variants, Paxlovid could easily become the standard of treatment. Pfizer reports that it has ramped up production and hopes to have enough for 80 million to 120 million courses of treatment in 2022. The timing of this release could have been better—because earlier availability is always better. But it certainly could have been worse. As the U.S. is facing a surge of omicron cases, an at-home pill that cuts the rate of hospitalization to one-tenth of what it might have been could be just the medical miracle the nation needed. Read more