Shionogi Pharmaceutical Partners with Pfizer and Merck to Develop a Daily Oral Treatment for Covid-19.
Shionogi has commenced clinical trials this month to assess the efficacy and side effects of its new medication. The trials are expected to continue until 2022. The company believes that a once-daily dosage will be more convenient for patients.
Previously, major pharmaceutical companies like Pfizer and Merck have been researching treatment methods for Covid-19. Pfizer’s oral medication, which is taken twice daily, is set to be launched this year. The company is also preparing to conduct clinical trials for a Ritonavir antiviral drug involving 2,000 participants.
Isao Teshirogi, CEO of Shionogi, speaks at a press conference in July 2021. (Photo: Kyodo News).
All three companies aim to address one of the biggest gaps in combating the pandemic: effective treatment options. Research indicates that vaccines are effective in preventing severe symptoms, even with the Delta variant. However, some individuals remain hesitant to get vaccinated. In such cases, Covid-19 treatments represent the only hope.
Existing methods, including the antiviral drug remdesivir, can only be administered in hospitals due to the requirement for intravenous infusion. Other treatments, such as monoclonal antibodies or steroids, also necessitate medical supervision.
Shionogi is focusing on a product that individuals with mild nCoV infections can use at home, particularly in the early stages when symptoms are mild. This medication is similar to Tamiflu for flu treatment. Isao Teshirogi, CEO of Shionogi, stated: “Our goal is to create a medication as safe as Tamiflu or Xofluza.” According to him, Shionogi’s pill could neutralize the virus after five days of use.
The trials in Japan are expected to involve 50 to 100 volunteers. A larger study, which will include a placebo-controlled group, is set to begin later this year.
The failure rate of drug trials is generally high. Any side effects, even mild ones like nausea, could make the medication unsuitable for home use. Experts are uncertain whether eliminating the virus within cells will help prevent severe complications such as oxygen deprivation. Shionogi’s drug works by inhibiting a type of enzyme known as protease, which viruses typically use to replicate inside human cells.
