Merck has sought emergency use authorization from the US Food and Drug Administration for its experimental antiviral COVID-19 drug, molnupiravir, stated the company.

If authorized, the drug would become the first oral antiviral approved for the treatment of COVID-19. The drug comes in capsule form.

Merck and Ridgeback announced interim data from the phase III clinical trial showing that molnupiravir could decrease the risk of hospitalization or death by about 50%. Nearly 7% of patients who received molnupiravir were hospitalized within 30 days, compared to 14% of patients who were given a placebo, stated the company. There were no deaths in the molnupiravir group compared to eight deaths in the group that received a placebo. None of the participants had received vaccination… (Medscape)