CSPC Pharmaceutical Group has signed a strategic partnership agreement with American pharma firm Pfizer to launch a local brand of the COVID-19 oral therapeutic treatment Nirmatrelvir/Ritonavir in China. The two companies will jointly aim to improve access of this treatment to Chinese patients.

Nirmatrelvir/Ritonavir is an oral small molecule COVID-19 therapeutic treatment, which is used to treat patients with mild to moderate COVID-19 who are at risk of disease progression such as the elderly (patients over 60) or patients with one or more risk factors, such as chronic kidney disease, diabetes, cardiovascular disease or chronic lung disease.

Nirmatrelvir/Ritonavir has been used in approximately 15 million patients worldwide. With 86% reduction in risk of hospitalisation and death demonstrated in a pivotal clinical trial, the drug played a significant role in fighting against the COVID-19 pandemic.

Through this partnership with Pfizer, the Group can share the synergistic effects of the strengths of both parties, which can help improve the accessibility of COVID-19 antiviral drugs in China and reduce the risk of severe illness and death, thus contributing to the prevention and control of the pandemic in China.