Pfizer Inc (NYSE:PFE) said today there is evidence its new Covid treatment Paxlovid was effective against the new Omicron strain.
The US pharma made the claim as it released final data for a phase 2/3 trial of the anti-viral drug confirming preliminary results that it was 89% effective in preventing Covid sufferers from going to hospital.
The drug needs to be taken within a few days of symptoms first appearing, but based on the study of 2,200 patients can be a 'critical tool' against the virus said chief executive Albert Bourla
"This news provides further corroboration that our oral antiviral candidate, if authorised or approved, could have a meaningful impact on the lives of many," he said
"We are confident that, if authorised or approved, this potential treatment could be a critical tool to help quell the pandemic."
Treatments for Covid-19 have received less attention during the pandemic die to the success of the vaccination programmes, but with Omicron seemingly able to dodge the current crop of jabs, focus is switching to alternatives to halt the spread of Covid.
GlaxoSmithKline, which has struggled to find a workable jab despite its huge vaccine division, recently said its treatment under development with US firm Vir worked well against all variants.
George Scangos, Vir’s CEO, said "Sotrovimab is the first monoclonal antibody to report preclinical data demonstrating activity against all tested SARS-CoV-2 variants of concern and interest to date, including omicron, as well as the still prevalent and highly contagious delta variant.”
The need for a new solution might be pressing as Boris Johnson today warned his cabinet that a "huge spike" of the omicron variant is coming.
Johnson said the Omicron was expected to become the dominant strain in London as soon as today as he justified his heavily criticised Plan B measures.
The PM is facing a major rebellion from his own party's MPs over the measures.
Face masks in public places and on transport are now mandatory again, while people have been encouraged by the PM to work from home where possible, sparking dismay in the hospitality industry with reports of widespread Christmas party cancellations.
Airlines meanwhile have reacted with fury to the reintroduction of Covid testing before travelling to and after arriving in the UK.
France today also said it was preparing to tighten restrictions on travellers arriving from the UK.
Shares in Whitbread, the hospitality sector bellwether rose 0.9% to 2,822p, British Airways owner IAG rose 2.3% to 133.3p while Glaxo dropped 0.7% to 1,596p.