2. Pfizer will waive royalties as long as Covid-19 remains classified as a public health emergency of international concern by the WHO.
The licensing agreement is subject to the Paxlovid treatment passing ongoing trials and regulatory approval.
3. On Tuesday, Pfizer applied to the US Food and Drug Administration to grant an emergency use authorization for the Covid pill.
A Pfizer spokesperson said the company requested authorization of the treatment only for unvaccinated people at this time.
4. Vaccinated people, including those with an underlying medical condition, are participants in other ongoing trials.
Paxlovid works by preventing the coronavirus from replicating inside cells. The treatment is meant to be given within 3 to 5 days of the onset of symptoms.
5. Paxlovid combines an experimental compound called PF-07321332 and HIV medicine ritonavir.
Taking Paxlovid with a low dose of ritonavir helps slow the breakdown of PF-07321332. It remains active in the body for a longer period at a high concentration, to help combat the virus.
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1. The Women’s Tennis Association has doubted the authenticity of an email purportedly from Chinese tennis player Peng Shuai, which was published by Chinese state broadcaster CGTN.
Peng has not been heard from since alleging sexual assault by a retired senior Chinese politician.
2. The email, allegedly written by Peng, claimed that she is not missing or unsafe, and that the sexual assault allegation linked to her was not true.
“I have a hard time believing that Peng Shuai actually wrote the email we received,” WTA president Steve Simon said.
3. Simon also said CGTN’s statement only raises his concerns as to Peng's safety and whereabouts.
Peng wrote on Weibo earlier this month that she was forced into a sexual relationship with former Chinese Vice Premier Zhang Gaoli. The post has since been removed.
1. Johor’s Forest City has been ranked second out of 5 Most Useless Megaprojects in the World, according to YouTube channel Top Luxury.
“Forest City was probably too ambitious to begin with, too futuristic to truly achieve and too politically challenged to succeed anytime soon.”
2. The video, which garnered at least 5.6 million views in just four days, claims that despite the billions of dollars invested, Malaysians are unable to purchase properties in the Forest City as the prices cater to China’s market.
3. The video also claims that the project is being funded mainly through China.
“Wealthy Chinese investors who couldn’t afford the soaring prices of apartments in their own country rushed to Forest City.
“By 2019, 80% of the property owners were Chinese.”
1. PKR’s Ginie Lim has criticised Azmin Ali for claiming that she had been dropped as a candidate in the Melaka state election for being aligned with him.
“Walaupun saya tidak bertanding dalam Pilihan Raya Negeri Melaka kali ini, saya tetap komited dengan agenda perjuangan PH.”
2. “Kesetiaan seorang aktivis Reformis adalah pada prinsip perjuangan parti, bukan kepada individu.
“Saya menolak dengan tegas tindakan Langkah Sheraton kerana bersekongkol dengan kuasa kleptokrat dan perasuah yang telahpun ditolak oleh rakyat dalam Pilihan Raya Umum,” she said.
3. “Meskipun Azmin pernah menjadi Timbalan Presiden KEADILAN, namun amat menyedihkan bagi seorang yang kononnya memperjuangkan politik pelbagai kaum dan melawan rasuah lebih 20 tahun tetapi akhirnya terpaksa tunduk kepada acuan parti perkauman dan perasuah,” Ginie said.
2. The booster shot for the AstraZeneca vaccine will be administered six months from when the second dose was given.
For Sinovac’s CoronaVac, the booster dose will be administered three to six months after the second dose.
3. Health DG Dr Noor Hisham said the dispensing of the booster doses for both vaccines is for certain target groups determined by the Covid-19 Immunisation Task Force-Booster.
He added that the administration of the booster shots would be announced periodically.
1. The Health Ministry welcomes any proposal for clinical trials on the use of marijuana for medical purposes.
Minister Khairy Jamaluddin said any parties with adequate scientific evidence for such purposes can register with the Drug Control Authority for evaluation.
2. Khairy also said the DCA had registered a cannabis-based product named Sativex in 2014, but its manufacturer requested for the registration to be cancelled in 2017.
The NPRA told Code Blue, Sativex was taken off the Malaysian market in 2017 as it was not commercially viable.
3. According to the National Pharmaceutical Regulatory Agency, Sativex was used for treatment in patients with moderate to severe spasticity due to multiple sclerosis, who have not responded adequately to other anti-spasticity medication.