The government is closely monitoring the clinical trial of molnupiravir, an investigational drug that is slated to be the first oral antiviral medication for COVID-19.
“That would be a big help once findings show that it is effective for the patients,” Vergeire said.
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Molnupiravir, an oral pill developed by Merck and Ridgeback Biotherapeutics, is designed to prevent the replication of several RNA viruses, including the SARS-CoV-2 virus that causes COVID-19.
Merck said the drug had significantly reduced by about 50 percent the risk of hospitalization or death among COVID-19-positive individuals who joined its late-stage trial.
