World's first country approves pill to treat Covid-19
On November 4, the UK became the first country in the world to approve the antiviral drug Molnupiravir to treat patients with Covid-19.
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| Pills to treat Covid-19. Photo: Reuters |
The drug was jointly developed by pharmaceutical company Merck and its American partner Ridgeback Biotherapeutics.
Reuters reported that the UK's Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) recommends using Molnupiravir as soon as possible after a patient tests positive for the drug.Coronavirusand within 5 days of onset of symptoms.
It is the first approved oral treatment for Covid-19. Prior to this, treatments for Covid-19 had focused on vaccines. Other drugs, including the antiviral Redesivir and Dexamethasone, were typically only given after a patient had been hospitalized.
The Covid-19 pandemic has claimed the lives of more than 5.2 million people worldwide.
Meck Pharmaceuticals said it expects to produce 10 million courses of Molnupiravir by the end of this year and at least 20 million courses in 2022. In the UK, the drug is known as Lagevrio.
The drug can halve the risk of death or hospitalization for people at risk of severe Covid-19, when given early in the disease. Last month, the UK signed a deal with Merck to buy 480,000 courses of Molnupiravir.
