Pfizer says COVID pill wasn't effective for standard-risk patients

Pfizer on Tuesday said a study showed its COVID-19 pill Paxlovid didn't significantly reduce the risk of hospitalization or death in people with a standard risk of developing severe infections.

Why it matters: The results could mean the antiviral could be largely limited to high-risk patient populations, where it's been shown to be effective.

Driving the news: Pfizer said it was halting enrollment in the study of standard-risk patients after Paxlovid showed a 51% risk reduction, which the company called "non-significant."

• The results will be rolled into an application for full FDA approval of the drug in high-risk patients.
• Pfizer said the findings won't affect its full-year 2022 revenue forecast.

Where it stands: The FDA in December authorized Paxlovid for the treatment of individuals at high risk of severe illness from COVID.

• The Biden administration this spring committed to buying 20 million courses of the drug from Pfizer and laid out a roadmap for distributing them to states, community health centers and other providers.
• A recent study from Israel found Paxlovid lowered hospitalizations for older patients but wasn't as effective for younger groups.