(Reuters) Molnupiravir, a Covid-19 antiviral pill developed by Merck and Ridgeback Biotherapeutics, has been approved by Britain’s regulator, becoming the first in the world.
Britain’s Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency says the drug can be used as soon as possible after a positive Covid-19 test, within five days of the occurrence of symptoms.
Molnupiravir has been under watch since last month, when clinical trials showed that it could reduce chances of dying from Covid by half and minimized hospitalization for those at risk of severe disease symptoms.
US authorities are set to meet later this month to determine whether molnupiravir should be authorized.
Merck says it aims to produce 10 million courses of molnupiravir treatment by the end of 2021, with more than 20 million doses scheduled for manufacturing next year.
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