Pfizer to Share Its COVID Pill with Poor Countries
2021-11-17
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1The drug maker Pfizer has signed a deal with a United Nations-supported group to permit other producers to make its experimental COVID-19 pill.
2The agreement could make the medicine available to more than half of the world's population.
3In a statement released Tuesday, Pfizer said it would permit the Switzerland-based organization Medicines Patent Pool to produce the antiviral drug.
4That would let generic drug companies produce the pill for use in 95 countries.
5About 53 percent of the world's population live in those 95 countries.
6The agreement does not include some countries that have struggled with large numbers of coronavirus deaths.
7For example, a Brazilian drug company could be permitted to make the pill for export to other countries, but the medicine could not be made for use in Brazil.
8But health officials note that because the deal was reached even before Pfizer's drug has been approved anywhere, the agreement could help to end the pandemic sooner.
9Esteban Burrone is head of policy at Medicines Patent Pool.
10He said, "It's quite significant that we will be able to provide access to a drug that appears to be effective and has just been developed, to more than 4 billion people."
11He estimated that other drug makers would be able to start producing the pill within months.
12But he said he understands that the agreement may not make everyone happy.
13"We try to strike a very delicate balance between the interests of the (company), the sustainability required by generic producers and most importantly, the public health needs in lower and middle-income countries," Burrone said.
14As part of the agreement, Pfizer will not receive royalties on sales in poor countries.
15Royalties means money that is paid to the creator of a product based on how much of the product is sold.
16Pfizer will also not get royalties on sales in any countries included in the agreement while COVID-19 remains a public health emergency.
17Earlier this month, Pfizer said its pill cuts the risk of hospitalization and death by nearly 90 percent in people with mild to moderate coronavirus infections.
18Health experts said the company should stop its trials based on such good results.
19Pfizer said it would ask the U.S. Food and Drug Administration and other agencies to approve the pill as soon as possible.
20Since the pandemic started spreading last year, researchers around the world have worked to create a drug to treat COVID-19 at home and keep people out of the hospital.
21Currently, most COVID-19 treatments must be taken through the bloodstream.
22Britain approved Merck's COVID-19 pill earlier this month.
23In a similar deal with the Medicines Patent Pool announced in October, Merck agreed to let other drug makers produce its COVID-19 pill.
24It is available in 105 poorer countries.
25Doctors Without Borders said it was "disheartened" that the Pfizer deal does not make the drug available to the whole world.
26The group noted that the agreement announced Tuesday does not include countries like China, Argentina or Thailand.
27Yuanqiong Hu is Doctors Without Borders.
28She said, "The world knows by now that access to COVID-19 medical tools needs to be guaranteed for everyone, everywhere, if we really want to control this pandemic."
29Although Pfizer has agreed to share its COVID-19 drug, the company and others have not released their vaccine instructions for use in other countries.
30The World Health Organization in South Africa invited pharmaceutical companies to share online their messenger RNA vaccine instructions and technologies.
31But no companies have taken part.
32Less than 1 percent of Pfizer's COVID-19 shots has gone to poorer countries.
33I'm Dan Novak.
1The drug maker Pfizer has signed a deal with a United Nations-supported group to permit other producers to make its experimental COVID-19 pill. 2The agreement could make the medicine available to more than half of the world's population. 3In a statement released Tuesday, Pfizer said it would permit the Switzerland-based organization Medicines Patent Pool to produce the antiviral drug. That would let generic drug companies produce the pill for use in 95 countries. About 53 percent of the world's population live in those 95 countries. 4The agreement does not include some countries that have struggled with large numbers of coronavirus deaths. For example, a Brazilian drug company could be permitted to make the pill for export to other countries, but the medicine could not be made for use in Brazil. 5But health officials note that because the deal was reached even before Pfizer's drug has been approved anywhere, the agreement could help to end the pandemic sooner. 6Esteban Burrone is head of policy at Medicines Patent Pool. He said, "It's quite significant that we will be able to provide access to a drug that appears to be effective and has just been developed, to more than 4 billion people." 7He estimated that other drug makers would be able to start producing the pill within months. But he said he understands that the agreement may not make everyone happy. 8"We try to strike a very delicate balance between the interests of the (company), the sustainability required by generic producers and most importantly, the public health needs in lower and middle-income countries," Burrone said. 9As part of the agreement, Pfizer will not receive royalties on sales in poor countries. Royalties means money that is paid to the creator of a product based on how much of the product is sold. 10Pfizer will also not get royalties on sales in any countries included in the agreement while COVID-19 remains a public health emergency. 11Earlier this month, Pfizer said its pill cuts the risk of hospitalization and death by nearly 90 percent in people with mild to moderate coronavirus infections. Health experts said the company should stop its trials based on such good results. 12Pfizer said it would ask the U.S. Food and Drug Administration and other agencies to approve the pill as soon as possible. 13Since the pandemic started spreading last year, researchers around the world have worked to create a drug to treat COVID-19 at home and keep people out of the hospital. Currently, most COVID-19 treatments must be taken through the bloodstream. 14Britain approved Merck's COVID-19 pill earlier this month. In a similar deal with the Medicines Patent Pool announced in October, Merck agreed to let other drug makers produce its COVID-19 pill. It is available in 105 poorer countries. 15Doctors Without Borders said it was "disheartened" that the Pfizer deal does not make the drug available to the whole world. The group noted that the agreement announced Tuesday does not include countries like China, Argentina or Thailand. 16Yuanqiong Hu is Doctors Without Borders. She said, "The world knows by now that access to COVID-19 medical tools needs to be guaranteed for everyone, everywhere, if we really want to control this pandemic." 17Although Pfizer has agreed to share its COVID-19 drug, the company and others have not released their vaccine instructions for use in other countries. The World Health Organization in South Africa invited pharmaceutical companies to share online their messenger RNA vaccine instructions and technologies. But no companies have taken part. 18Less than 1 percent of Pfizer's COVID-19 shots has gone to poorer countries. 19I'm Dan Novak. 20The Associated Press reported this story. Dan Novak adapted it for VOA Learning English. Ashley Thompson was the editor. 21_______________________________________ 22Words in This Story 23experimental - adj. made or done in order to see how well something works 24generic - adj. not sold or made under a particular brand name 25significant - adj. large enough to be noticed or have an effect 26delicate - adj. easily broken or damaged 27sustainable - adj. able to be used without being completely used up or destroyed 28income - n. money that is earned from work, investments, business, etc. 29access - n. a way of getting near, at, or to something or someone