Pfizer has placed its request to United States health regulators in the Food and Drug Administration to approve its experimental pill for COVID-19 on Tuesday, according to media reports. The move is likely to set the stage for an oral coronavirus treatment.

The pill, produced by pharmaceutical giant Pfizer, has reportedly demonstrated success in scaling back COVID-related fatalities and hospitalisations. If given a green light by United States federal authorities, the pill will boost accessibility and effectiveness in controlling the pandemic, when compared to old school vaccines.

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Pfizer CEO Albert Bourla said in a statement on Tuesday, “We are moving as quickly as possible in our effort to get this potential treatment into the hands of patients, and we look forward to working with the US FDA on its review of our application”, according to reports from Associated Press.

Currently, every federally approved treatment against the deadly disease is available in the form of injectables and requires professional medical personnel to administer. However, if and when the pill– which will be sold as Paxlovid– is approved, the treatment and prevention is likely to get convenient.

Pfizer CEO Bourla said, “With more than 5 million deaths and countless lives impacted by this devastating disease globally, there is an urgent need for life-saving treatment options”, according to reports from CNN.

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He added, “The overwhelming efficacy achieved in our recent clinical study of Paxlovid, and its potential to help save lives and keep people out of the hospital if authorized, underscores the critical role that oral antiviral therapies could play in the battle against COVID-19.”

The news comes hours after the pharmaceutical giant agreed to permit other manufacturers to produce its COVID-19 drug, a move that is anticipated to multiply the availability of the pill to the world after receiving necessary authorisations.