Pfizer's COVID-19 Pill Benefited Only Older Adults, New Israel-Based Study Shows

According to a new observational study published in the New England Journal of Medicine, Pfizer Inc's PFE COVID-19 treatment, Paxlovid, only worked among patients 65 years of age or older, with no evidence of benefit found in younger adults.

The Israel-based study, which didn't evaluate the current Omicron variant, assessed 42,821 COVID-19 patients who were 65 or older.

The study found hospitalization occurred in 11 patients treated with Paxlovid (14.7 cases per 100,000 person-days) and in 766 untreated patients (58.9 cases per 100,000 person-days). 

Also Read: FDA Says Study Needed To Assess Another Round Of Pfizer's COVID-19 Pill As Infection Rebounds.

But among the more than 66,000 Covid patients who were 40 to 64 years old, hospitalization occurred in seven treated patients (15.2 cases per 100,000 person-days) and in 327 untreated patients (15.8 cases per 100,000 person-days), which wasn't a significant difference.

Paxlovid's authorization is based on final results from Pfizer's Epic-HR study, showing an 86% reduction in relative risk of hospitalizations or death from any cause. Pfizer expects Paxlovid to bring in more than $20 billion this year.

Price Action: PFE shares are up 0.12% at $47.49 on the last check Thursday.