[填空题]News Item 22
American drug maker Pfizer said 1 (____) that its 2 (____) pill to treat COVID-19 appears to work well against the fast-spreading Omicron variant.
The company said its study of 2,250 people found the drug 3 (____) hospitalizations and deaths by nearly 90 percent among high-risk 4 (____). The full results came from those who took the pill within three to five days of showing COVID-19 5 (____).
In 6 (____) testing, Pfizer said the drug also produced good 7 (____) against the Omicron variant. Pfizer tested the antiviral pill against a man-made version of an important protein that Omicron uses to 8 (____) itself.
The U.S. Food and Drug 9 (____) is expected to decide soon whether to approve Pfizer’s pill and another one from Merck for treatment. After strong early results, Merck said last month that its pill only reduced hospitalizations and deaths by 30 percent.
Currently approved treatments 10 (____) injections from healthcare professionals. But a pill can be taken at home and is easier to send around the world.