New Oral COVID-19 Antiviral Might Be Better Than Pfizer's Paxlovid With Faster Recovery, Fewer Side Effects, Data Shows

A study in China shows that a remdesivir analog, dubbed VV116, is as effective as Pfizer Inc's PFE oral COVID-19 pill.
Gilead Sciences Inc's GILD Veklury (remdesivir) is approved as a treatment for severe COVID-19.
The Phase 3 results, published in The New England Journal of Medicine, exhibit that the treatment had fewer side effects than Paxlovid.
67.4% of people who took VV116 reported side effects, compared to 77.3% who took Paxlovid.
Also read: After Famed COVID-19 Pill, Pfizer Inks Research Pact For Another Antiviral Candidate.
VV116 was associated with fewer unexpected side effects due to reactions with other medications, such as those for insomnia, seizures, or high blood pressure.
In the primary analysis involving the full analysis population, sustained clinical recovery occurred in 377 participants in the VV116 group and 378 participants in the Paxlovid group.
The median time to recovery was four days for VV116 recipients and five days for those who took Paxlovid.
No participants in either group had died or had progressed to severe COVID-19 by day 28.
Price Action: PFE shares are down 0.51% at $51.07 during the premarket session on the last check Friday.