Pharmaceutical company Merck is touting an experimental COVID-19 pill saying that it reduced hospitalizations and deaths by half in newly infected COVID patients.
It also seems to work prophylactically for those who have been exposed to infected people.
Merck says molnupiravir is the first effective anti-viral pill to fight COVID.
Merck is asking the FDA and health officials around the world to authorize its use.
Daily pill to treat COVID could be just months away. https://t.co/JHx0NDh9fr
— ABC News (@ABC) September 30, 2021
Merck’s drug may be the first and only pill to potentially win the war against the pandemic.
The study results were released by the company and have not been peer reviewed.
But, an independent group of medical advisers are encouraged by the strong interim results.