COVID-19 is among a flurry of news pattering headlines daily. Deaths, cases, surges and more are the subject of day-to-day information spreading internationally. Within this, two new events have occurred; the patent release of pills to treat COVID-19, and the birth of the omicron variant.

   Merck and Pfizer have recently released oral pills that are used to treat the virus. Hospitalizations and deaths are reportedly reduced with usage of the pill, a Merck study states. The patent for the pill, and the open release of it, marks a successful landmark amid a pandemic for some.

   The mysterious omicron variant raises con-cerns among consumers regarding the efficacy of the pill. Merck and Pfizer both refute these claims by stating that the pills are made with spike mutations in mind, and the new variant does not affect the new medication.

   During an interview on CNBC’s “Squawk Box,” Pfizer CEO Albert Bourla explains “the good news when it comes to our treatment, it was designed with that in mind, it was designed with the fact that most mutations are coming in the spikes… that gives me very high level of confidence that the treatment will not be affected, our oral treatment will not be affected by this virus.”