Merck & Co. has stated that its experimental drug diminished hospitalizations and deaths by half among individuals recently infected with COVID-19. The company will soon seek authorization for the drug’s use from the health officials in the US and around the world.

According to Merck and its partner Ridgeback Biotherapeutics, early results have shown that the patients who received molnupiravir within five days of onset of COVID-19 symptoms had about half the rate of hospitalization and death compared to who received a dummy pill. The study looked at 775 adult patients with mild-to-moderate COVID-19 who were considered to have a higher risk for severe disease owing to conditions such as obesity, diabetes or heart disease.

Once authorized, this drug would become the first pill to treat COVID-19. All the other therapies for COVID-19 currently authorized in the US require an IV or injection… (ET Healthworld – AP, October 1, 2021)