“Many drugs are in different research phases today. Merck and Pfizer were the first to complete the third phase of research. They will appear on the market soon. We confirm that Georgia is working to get these drugs,” said Amiran Gamkrelidze, head of the National Center for Disease Control.
He pointed out that these are the two most advanced drugs available, one for Pfizer and the other for Merck. Britain was first to approve the Merck drug, and Pfizer will soon be approved by the US’ Food and Drug Administration. Both are drugs that work by different mechanisms but both directly affect coronavirus, which works with the same mechanism as the flu drug Tamiflu.
“If you take it at the beginning when the virus is confirmed, within 5 days, then the effect is very high. It reduces further complications, and mortality of the disease, from about 80% to 90%,” Gamkrelidze said.
By Ketevan Skhirtladze
