THE HAGUE, Nov 19, 2021 (BSS/AFP) - The EU's drug watchdog on Friday

started reviewing Pfizer's Covid pill for emergency use by member states as
Europe grappled for ways to tackle a sudden spike in coronavirus cases.

   The move would allow the European Medicines Agency to advise countries
that wanted to use the US pharma giant's promising antiviral treatment ahead
of formal approval across the EU.

   "EMA is reviewing currently available data on the use of Paxlovid, an oral
treatment for Covid-19 developed by Pfizer," the Amsterdam-based European
Medicines Agency (EMA) said.

   "EMA is starting this review to support national authorities who may
decide on its early use for Covid-19, for example in emergency use settings,
prior to marketing authorisation," it said.

   A full "rolling review" for formal approval is expected to start next week
but the EMA said it wanted to be able to help national authorities "in the
shortest possible timeframe".