An orally-administered antiviral drug that was developed to treat influenza can significantly reduce the levels of novel coronavirus in hamsters and is undergoing the final stages of human trials, state researchers.

Scientists from the National Institutes of Health (NIH) in the US and the University of Plymouth in the UK noted that MK-4482, ormolnupiravir, was effective when administered up to 12 hours prior to or 12 hours after infection with SARS-CoV-2. The drug also decreased damage to lungs, noted the study conducted in hamsters. According to the study published in the journal Nature Communications, treatment with this potential drug could check high-risk exposure to SARS-CoV-2 and might play a role in the treatment of established SARS-CoV-2 infection alone or in combination with other agents. The drug is in the final stages of human clinical trials in SARS-CoV-2 infected patients… (HT – PTI, April 19, 2021)