"Pfizer Inc. today announced the start of the Phase 2/3 EPIC-PEP (Evaluation of Protease Inhibition for COVID-19 in Post-Exposure Prophylaxis) study to evaluate the investigational novel oral antiviral candidate PF-07321332, co-administered with a low dose of ritonavir, for the prevention of COVID-19 infection," the company said in a release.
The new study is enrolling individuals 18 and older living in the same household with an individual who has a confirmed symptomatic coronavirus infection, the release said.
If successful, the oral antiviral therapy will be able to stop the virus in the early stages in individuals exposed to the novel coronavirus and prevent the virus from replicating itself and inhibiting the onset of infection in others, Pfizer Chief Scientific Officer Mikael Dolsten said.
On Sunday, Pfizer CEO Albert Bourla said the world would be able to return to normal life within a year provided there will be annual revaccinations.