A New Pill May Stop COVID-19 in Its Tracks

The coronavirus pandemic has pushed medical researchers and scientists to the limit. They’ve worked frantically to create effective vaccines and to find better treatments for COVID-19. Vaccines were developed and approved for emergency use at record speeds, and mass vaccinations are now underway all over the world.

There are a broad variety of treatments for COVID-19, including everything from drugs like dexamethasone and remdesivir for serious cases, to monoclonal antibody treatments for mild to moderate cases. Because of the novel nature of the disease, healthcare providers initially did not have a real idea of what would work—they were forced to try treatments developed for other types of severe respiratory infections.

In recent months, the press has focused more on the development of vaccines than on new treatments or therapies. However, Pfizer, one of the companies responsible for bringing a coronavirus vaccine to market, is testing a new pill that could be used to treat coronavirus. Here is what we know.

Early Signs of Illness

Coronavirus infections are different for every individual, ranging from relatively mild illness that can be treated with rest at home, and severe illness resulting in long hospitalizations or death. Many of the treatments recommended now for COVID-19 patients are used either exclusively in the hospital or are restricted to patients who are at an increased risk for severe infection.

This leaves individuals without risk factors at a loss. However, i many cases, the severity of coronavirus infections can seem random. The virus can manifest as a very mild case in a person with many risk factors, and other times cause an otherwise healthy person to be hospitalized.

Pfizer recently announced that it was beginning human trials for a new pill that could be used to treat coronavirus infections in the early stages of the illness. The pill would be the first oral antiviral treatment of its kind for coronavirus.

Protease Inhibitors

Pfizer’s pill is a type of drug known as a protease inhibitor. The drug binds to a particular enzyme (called a protease) in order to prevent the virus from being able to replicate. These types of medications have been used successfully in treating other illnesses caused by viruses, including hepatitis C and HIV.

The chief scientific officer of Pfizer, Mikael Dolsten, noted in a recent press statement that the new coronavirus mutations and the continuing global struggle to contain the pandemic are signs that access to treatment options could be critically important in the months to come. Vaccines aren’t enough on their own. Dolsten also notes that so far, no unexpected problems have arisen during the trials, and results could be seen in just a few weeks.

Besides Pfizer, Merck is also conducting human trials of its coronavirus pill, molnupiravir. The drug is being developing in conjunction with Ridgeback Biotherapeutics and works differently from the Pfizer protease inhibitor.