INTERNATIONAL: The European Union's drug regulator on Thursday , January 2, has given the green light to Pfizer’s antiviral Covid-19 pill for treating adults at risk of severe illness, as the region scrambles to boost its arsenal to fight the Omicron variant.

The endorsement by the European Medicines Agency for a conditional approval, if followed as usual by the European Commission, allows European Union member states to deploy the drug after the regulator gave guidance for its emergency use late last year.

Italy, Germany and Belgium are among a handful of European Union countries that have bought the drug, branded as Paxlovid.

The United States in December has authorised Paxlovid and Merck's similar drug molnupiravir.

These oral drugs, especially Pfizer's, are seen as promising new treatment options that can be taken at home at the onset of Covid-19 symptoms to help prevent hospitalisations and deaths.

Paxlovid, a two-drug antiviral regimen, was nearly 90 percent effective in preventing hospitalisations and deaths in patients at high risk of severe illness, according to data from the company's clinical trial. Recent lab data suggests the drug retained its effectiveness against the Omicron variant as well.