Monday, daily pills are being developed to fight COVID-19 and prevent the transmission to those within the same household.

The pills can also prevent the development of symptoms after exposure to the virus. It is currently in its clinical trials but has shown promising results, according to scientists.

“We believe that this treatment can help to stop the virus very early - before it can spread widely - potentially preventing the symptomatic cases of the disease in those who have been exposed and stopping the onset of infection in others,” said Michael Dolsten, the scientific director of Pfizer.

At least three antivirals are being tested in clinical trials, and results should be expected as soon as late fall or winter, according to Carl Dieffenbach, the director of the Division of AIDS at the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, who is overseeing antiviral development.

“I think that we will have answers as to what these pills are capable of within the next several months,” the director said.

According to CBS, the new drug impedes the production of enzymes necessary for the replication of the virus in human cells.

Those antivirals are already used as essential treatments for other viral infections, such as hepatitis C and HIV.

So far, only one antiviral drug has been approved to treat coronavirus. “But it is given intravenously to patients ill enough to be hospitalized, and is not intended for early, widespread use,” reported CNN.

On the other hand, the top contenders under trial can be packaged as pills.

Pfizer began early clinical trials of this new coronavirus treatment last March, with the goal of rolling it out by the end of the year.

Over 2,000 people will be enrolled in the final stages of the study. Participants will receive either the treatment combination or a placebo orally twice a day for five to ten days.

Pfizer is also testing another potential treatment for people already infected with the virus, to be prescribed at the first sign of infection without the need for patients to be hospitalized.

The drug company expects to see the results of these studies by the end of the year.