Pfizer CEO: "The Pill We Developed Will Be Effective Against the Omicron Variant"

Moderna CEO: "It Will Take Several Months to Supply Omicron Vaccine"

The photo is unrelated to specific expressions in the article. [Image source=Getty Images Bank]

[Asia Economy Reporter Heo Midam] As the new COVID-19 variant 'Omicron' rapidly spreads across countries worldwide, Albert Bourla, CEO of the American pharmaceutical company Pfizer, claimed that the oral COVID-19 antiviral pill developed by his company would be effective against the Omicron variant.

On the 29th of last month (local time), CEO Bourla appeared on CNBC and mentioned Pfizer's oral antiviral drug 'Paxlovid,' emphasizing, "We are confident that our oral treatment will not be affected by the Omicron variant virus."

Pfizer's 'Paxlovid' is a pill-form treatment, and its own clinical trial results showed it reduces the probability of hospitalization and death by up to 89%. He projected that Pfizer would produce enough Paxlovid to treat 50 million people.

Albert Bourla, CEO of Pfizer [Photo by AP News]

However, it remains uncertain whether the existing Pfizer vaccine is effective in preventing infection from the Omicron variant virus. CEO Bourla said they are studying the impact of the Omicron variant on their vaccine, adding, "I do not expect results showing that the vaccine fails to protect the human body (from the variant). However, there may be results indicating somewhat reduced protection."

Furthermore, he revealed that preparations for developing a new vaccine, if necessary, have already begun. CEO Bourla explained, "We have stated multiple times that we could have a vaccine within 100 days," and added, "We quickly developed vaccines for the Beta and Delta variants as well, but did not use them because the existing vaccines were sufficiently effective."

Moderna's COVID-19 vaccine. [Image source=AFP Yonhap News]

Meanwhile, Stefan Bancel, CEO of another vaccine manufacturer Moderna, predicted that it would take several months to develop and mass-produce a vaccine for the Omicron variant.

CEO Bancel appeared on CNBC that day and forecasted, "It will take a few months before we are ready to mass-produce and supply a vaccine specifically for the Omicron variant."

He views the transmissibility of the Omicron variant as very strong. Additionally, CEO Bancel suggested that the Omicron variant may have already spread to countries worldwide. He said, "We believe that the variant already exists in most countries," and added, "In most countries that have operated direct flights to and from South Africa over the past 7 to 10 days, there are likely infected individuals even if they have not yet been identified."