Asian Tech Press (Nov 5) -- U.S. pharmaceutical company Pfizer Inc. said Friday that a preliminary look at study results showed that its experimental antiviral pill Paxlovid reduced the risk of hospitalization and death by 89% in high-risk COVID-19 patients, The Wall Street Journal reported.

Mikael Dolsten, the company's chief scientific officer, said Pfizer plans to seek U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approval for the drug this month, and if approved, the company could deliver it this year.