Pfizer has reportedly notified the Korean health authorities that it would nearly double the price of Paxlovid (nirmatrelvir-ritonavir), raising concern about scuttling the government's plan to secure Covid-19 treatments.

Earlier, the government announced its intention to secure the drugs as the number of Covid-19 patients resurged and shortages of Paxlovid and other Covid-19 medications resurfaced.

According to the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency (KDCA), the number of hospitalized Covid-19 patients more than doubled from 226 in the third week of July to 472 in the fourth week. This month, the number has increased more than six times to 869 in the first week and 1,357 provisionally in the second week.

As Covid-19 patients surged, resulting in a treatment shortage, the KDCA said Monday that it had set aside 326.8 billion won ($244.8 million) to purchase additional Covid-19 drugs. That could buy about 262,000 doses, which the agency said it would supply to high-risk groups by October.

However, it is unclear whether the government can secure the supplies as planned if the supply price of Paxlovid, an essential Covid-19 treatment, goes up. According to officials at the Korea Pharmaceutical and Bio-Pharma Manufacturers Association (KPBMA), Pfizer reportedly told health authorities that it would double the supply price of Paxlovid.

“We are continuing to discuss and cooperate with the government,” said a spokesperson for Pfizer Korea. “We are discussing with our headquarters and other countries to secure necessary supplies for Korean patients as quickly as possible.”

Currently, only three Covid-19 treatments are available in Korea -- Pfizer's Paxlovid, MSD's Lagevrio (molnupiravir) and Gilead Sciences' intravenous drug Veklury Injection (remdesivir).

However, Veklury is an intravenous drug that can only be used in hospitalized patients, and Lagevrio is a de facto second-line drug for patients who cannot use Paxlovid and Veklury. Moreover, Lagevrio is not licensed in Korea and the U.S., and is only approved for emergency use.

It means that Paxlovid is the most widely available and proven Covid-19 treatment, and medical experts said any increase in its price will impact the government's plans to purchase more Covid-19 drugs.

Some experts call for urgent approval or authorization of Covid-19 drugs in development, such as Lagevrio, if the number of Covid-19 patients continues to increase.

Ildong Pharmaceutical, a local company, has been seeking approval for its Covid-19 treatment, Xocova (ensitrelvir), developed jointly with Japan’s Shionogi, since December 2023.