Merck seeks US approval for oral drug to treat Covid

KENILWORTH, New Jersey: Merck, the science and tech company, has urged regulatory agencies in the United States to grant authorization for use of its pill to treat Covid-19.

Once the Food and Drug Administration's (FDA's) clearance is received, which is expected within weeks, Merck will offer the first pill for treating COVID-19, as opposed to treatments relying upon injections and intravenous medications.

The Merck's pill has been found to lower the intensity of Covid symptoms and accelerate the recovery process. The Merck pill might be a revolutionary finding and help to lower the influx of COVID-19 cases at hospitals and reduce the outbreaks in emergent nations having inadequate healthcare facilities. Moreover, it will boost the dual strategy of handling COVID-19 in the form of treatment using medicines, prevention, and inoculations.

The agency plans to examine the firm's data pertaining to how safe and effective the medicine molnupiravir is, prior to deciding on approval of the pill.

Merck and partnering firm Ridgeback Biotherapeutic had put in an emergency-use authorization request with the FDA for the drug to be used among adults to treat mildly to moderately symptomatic patients suffering from COVID-19 who are susceptible to the acute ailment or being hospitalized.

"The value here is that it's a pill, so you don't have to deal with the infusion centers and all the factors around that," said Doctor Nicholas Kartsonis of Merck, as reported by the Associated Press.

"I think it's a very powerful tool to add to the toolbox," Kartsonis said.

According to the firm's recent announcement, the pill reduced the number of inpatients and fatalities by 50 percent among COVID-19 sufferers exhibiting initial signs. The outcomes were found to be promising to such an extent that independent medicine specialists overseeing the trial suggested halting it early.