Merck Seeks FDA Authorization For Covid-19 Pill

Yesterday drugmaker Merck ($MRK@US) said it requested emergency authorization from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration for its experimental antiviral pill for COVID-19. The pill, known as molnupiravir, was developed by Merck and Ridgeback Biotherapeutics. It is intended to treat mild to moderate cases of COVID-19 in adults at risk of developing a more severe case or needing hospitalization. If authorized, molnupiravir would be the first antiviral pill for treating COVID-19. Early results showed that high-risk adults who took the pill within five days of developing COVID-19 symptoms were about 50% less likely to be hospitalized or die. If the pill becomes available, it could be the breakthrough in treatment that many have been hoping for. The pandemic has killed more than 4.8 million people worldwide, including more than 700,000 in the U.S.