Grace Cary / Moment

Pfizer-BioNTech has announced a new oral antiviral treatment for the coronavirus that must be taken twice per day along with the mRNA vaccines.

Pfizer CEO Albert Bourla announced the new pills in a tweet on Wednesday.

“Success against #COVID19 will likely require both vaccines & treatments. We’re pleased to share we’ve started a Phase 2/3 study of our oral antiviral candidate-specifically designed to combat SARS-CoV-2-in non-hospitalized, low-risk adults.”

Pfizer is projected to earn $34 billion in 2021 from sales of its mRNA vaccines.

In a press release this week, Pfizer stated the pills were developed to specifically target SARS-CoV-2 in fully vaccinated, “non-hospitalized, low-risk adults.”

Pfizer says the oral protease inhibitor antiviral pills will be “mandated” for all symptomatic adults who are “not at increased risk of progressing to severe illness, which may lead to hospitalization or death.”

In other words, the pills will be mandated for adults who have natural immunity and are not likely to get sick if they contract Covid-19.