Prime Minister Naftali Bennett said on Sunday that Israel is considering buying Pfizer’s new antiviral pill against COVID-19, which the US drugmaker has described as highly efficient in preventing hospitalizations and deaths, as did 90 other countries. Were already in active talks with the pharma firm.
“There may be good news in the form of a drug to treat the coronavirus,” he said at the start of the weekly cabinet meeting.
The premier said he asked health officials over the weekend to “investigate in depth” the issue of obtaining the pill for Israel.
“If the drug is approved for use, it will be another important tool in managing the pandemic, along with vaccines for all and accessible testing for all, at all times,” he said.
Bennett’s remarks came after Hebrew media reported that Israel had just to start Negotiations with Pfizer to purchase new antivirals. pfizer said It was already in active discussions with 90 countries about the drug.
Health ministry officials reportedly said they would soon establish contact with Pfizer to begin talks on buying the pill.
Israel’s successful coronavirus vaccination campaign was largely the result of then-prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu receiving the first contract with Pfizer-BioNtech for a large-scale supply of doses. dozens of calls to CEO Albert Boerla.
A Magan David Edom worker takes a swab sample from a woman at a coronavirus rapid testing station in the central city of Lod on October 17, 2021. (Yossi Aloni / Flash 90)
Earlier on Sunday, the top health ministry official said Pfizer’s new drug “looks promising” but stressed that “we need to learn more about its efficacy, side effects and costs.”
Health Ministry Director-General Nachman Aish told 103FM radio that a decision would be taken after the full results of the trial are published, and predicted that Israel’s “good relationship with Pfizer will help us get the drug quickly.”
Pfizer announced Friday that its experimental antiviral pill for COVID-19 cuts hospitalization and death rates by nearly 90 percent as the drugmaker brings the first easy-to-use drug against the coronavirus to the global market. joins the race.
All COVID-19 treatments currently used in the US require an IV or injection. Competitor Merck’s COVID-19 pill is already under review at the Food and Drug Administration after showing strong preliminary results, and on Thursday the United Kingdom became the first country to approve it.
This undated image provided by Merck & Company shows its new antiviral drug (Merck & Company via AP)
Pfizer said it would ask the FDA and international regulators to authorize its pill as soon as possible after independent experts recommended halting the company’s study based on the strength of its results. Once Pfizer is implemented, the FDA could make a decision within weeks or months.
Israel has also reported a steady decline in morbidity in recent weeks, with infections and deaths rising from recorded peaks at the height of the fourth major coronavirus wave to hit the country.
According to the latest data from the Ministry of Health, 194 new cases were registered in Israel on Saturday, of which 0.68 percent tested positive. Testing rates are lower on weekends.
There were 6,393 active infections, including 178 people hospitalized in critical condition. There have been 1,333,743 verified COVID cases in Israel since the pandemic began.
The national death toll stood at 8,114.
