The pill developed by Merck is taken within five days of symptom onset and has been shown to reduce Covid hospitalizations and deaths by 30-percent among at-risk people.
This handout photo obtained May 26, 2021 courtesy of Merck & Co,Inc. shows capsules of the investigational antiviral pill MolnupiravirWASHINGTON - The US Food and Drug Administration on Thursday authorized Merck's Covid pill for high-risk adults, a day after giving the green light to a similar pill by Pfizer.
The pill developed by Merck, which is known as MSD outside the US and Canada, is taken within five days of symptom onset and has been shown to reduce Covid hospitalizations and deaths by 30 percent among at-risk people.The FDA stressed in its statement that both the Pfizer and Merck pills should complement, rather than replace vaccines, that remain the frontline tool in the fight against the coronavirus.
The FDA has not authorized Merck's pill for people under 18 because it may affect bone and cartilage growth.
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