Pfizer Shares Pre-Clinical Data Updates on COVID-19 Antiviral Research Program

New York, July 10, 2020 – Pfizer today issued an update on the company’s pre-clinical research efforts focused on developing a potential antiviral treatment for COVID-19. These updates are part of the company’s commitment to transparency in research findings related to COVID-19, as set forth in Pfizer’s five-point plan for the biopharmaceutical industry to tackle the disease caused by the novel coronavirus.

Today, we shared the chemical structure of a 3C-like (3CL) protease inhibitor and its in vitro activity against coronaviruses, including SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19. The structure and data can be found in a manuscript posted to the preprint server ChemRxIV and on Pfizer.com.This manuscript is concurrently undergoing scientific peer review for potential publication.

In addition, SARS-CoV-1 3CL protease inhibition data on 76 compounds and their molecular structures from the same chemical series as the lead 3CL protease inhibitor has been posted on Pfizer.com as part of our commitment to open data sharing.

“We’re pleased that our research efforts continue to progress and we are learning more about the potential of protease inhibitors to address infections caused by coronaviruses,” said Mikael Dolsten, Chief Scientific Officer and President, Worldwide Research, Development, and Medical. “As part of our focused efforts to provide potential treatment options for COVID-19, we are encouraged by the initial data and we will continue to assess the suitability of this class of drugs for IV administration clinically. One of our 3CL protease inhibitors could be the first protease inhibitor to enter clinical studies for evaluation of treating COVID-19, with a potential clinical study start in the third quarter of this year pending regulatory feedback. We are also exploring, via in vitro studies, potential COVID-19 combination therapies that combine our protease inhibitors with other antiviral compounds.”

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