A pill called molnupiravir — which was originally developed to treat the flu– has been shown to cut the risk of hospitalization or death by about half in symptomatic virus suffers.
Now England has approved the pill and started giving it to patients who test positive for COVID. The drug needs to be given within five days of symptoms developing to be most effective.
British Health Secretary Sajid Javid said the treatment was a “gamechanger” for the ‘most frail and immunosuppressed.’
Molnupiravir, developed by the US drug company Merck, is awaiting approval for use in the US. They have applied for emergency application to the FDA.
