New COVID-19 Pill: MA Biotech Firm, Pfizer Partner On Development

CAMBRIDGE, MA — Cambridge biotech firm Clear Creak Bio and Pfizer will work together to develop a new pill to treat COVID-19 infections, the companies said Tuesday.

Pfizer already distributes Paxlovid, one of the most widely used coronavirus antiviral treatments. The pill under development with Clear Creak Bio would be a new style of oral medication that would target a key coronavirus enzyme, according to the companies.

“It is critical that we try to stay ahead of the virus, continuing to advance clinical development opportunities for our current oral therapy as well as innovating through our internal programs and strategic partnerships to bring forward additional monotherapy and/or combination treatment candidates that we believe may play a role in the ongoing fight against COVID-19," Pfizer Chief Scientific Officer Charlotte Allerton said in a news release.

The pill would target the virus enzyme PLpro, which allows the virus to replicate in the body. Paxlovid targets another coronavirus enzyme, called Mpro.

Clear Creek Bio is a small firm located above the H Mart along Massachusetts Avenue in Central Square. The company has previously worked on a drug targeting dihydroorotate dehydrogenase (DHODH), which may help contain cancer cells.