Pfizer IDs Antiviral Candidate for Treating COVID-19

Pfizer said it has identified an antiviral drug candidate that may aid in treating patients who have contracted the novel coronavirus.

The company said preclinical data showed that the compound, originally developed to treat the 2003 SARS coronavirus, has potential to treat patients with COVID-19.

Pfizer plans to begin human trials in the fall — three months earlier than originally expected.

Pfizer also announced that it plans to study whether any of its existing drugs could help infected patients, including Xeljanz (tofacitinib), the company’s rheumatoid arthritis treatment that is also used to treat autoimmune ulcerative colitis.

Pfizer is also collaborating with German company BioNTech on a vaccine candidate that uses messenger RNA technology. — Suz Redfearn