Health

Biden Applauds New COVID-19 Pill Data But Cautions That ‘Several Steps Remain’

WASHINGTON, DC - DECEMBER 13: U.S. President Joe Biden speaks during a briefing about the recent tornadoes in the Midwest in the Oval Office of the White House December 13, 2021 in Washington, DC. More than 60 people were killed, and officials fear the number will grow after a series of tornadoes and severe storms made their way through several states in the Midwest over the weekend. (Photo by Drew Angerer/Getty Images)

Photo by Drew Angerer/Getty Images

Shelby Talcott Senior White House Correspondent
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President Joe Biden said Tuesday he’s “encouraged by the promising data released by Pfizer” on its new COVID-19 antiviral pill but noted that the drug still faces “several steps” before it can become available.

Pfizer said its updated analysis of the antiviral COVID-19 pill indicates it is almost 90% effective in preventing deaths and hospitalizations for high-risk patients, CNBC reported. The U.S. drugmaker also said Tuesday that data suggests the pill will be effective against the Omicron variant.

“This news provides another potentially powerful tool in our fight against the virus, including the Omicron variant,” Biden said in a statement responding to the Pfizer analysis.

Biden noted that this COVID-19 antiviral pill is far from a done deal. It still has to go through authorization by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), among several other steps, the president said. Still, the administration is putting faith in the pill, announcing in November that it would be securing 10 million treatment courses.

WASHINGTON, DC - SEPTEMBER 27: U.S. President Joe Biden rolls up his sleeve before receiving a third dose of the Pfizer/BioNTech Covid-19 vaccine in the South Court Auditorium in the White House September 27, 2021 in Washington, DC. Last week President Biden announced that Americans 65 and older and frontline workers who received the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine over six months ago would be eligible for booster shots. (Photo by Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images)

WASHINGTON, DC – SEPTEMBER 27: U.S. President Joe Biden rolls up his sleeve before receiving a third dose of the Pfizer/BioNTech Covid-19 vaccine in the South Court Auditorium in the White House September 27, 2021 in Washington, DC. (Photo by Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images)

Biden reiterated this announcement Tuesday, saying that the order has been placed ahead of time “to make sure that we are ready.”

The president ended his statement with another push for fully vaccinated Americans to get the booster and for unvaccinated individuals to get the shot. Biden said these “remain the most important tools we have to save lives” while hinting at a brighter future should the antiviral pill be authorized. (RELATED: Coronavirus Is Fading As The Top Issue On Americans’ Minds)

“But if this treatment is indeed authorized — and once the pills are widely available — it will mark a significant step forward in our path out of the pandemic,” Biden said. “The combination of widespread vaccinations and boosters, testing, and effective pills for those who become ill will help us further reduce the impact of COVID-19 on our lives and our economy as we continue to build back better.”