The American Medicines Agency (FDA) urgently authorized this Thursday the marketing of the pill against Covid-19 developed by the Merck laboratory.
This medicine, oral molnupiravir, is intended to be given to patients who test positive for the coronavirus, who have a “mild to moderate” form of the disease, and who are most at risk. This pill reduces the risk of hospitalization and death by around 30%, according to the results of clinical trials. Use of the drug is not permitted in patients under the age of 18 because molnupiravir can affect the growth of bones and cartilage, the FDA said in a statement.
Merck has reached an agreement with the US government for the company to provide 3.1 million treatments of molnupiravir as a result of this clearance, CNN reports.
The management of the laboratory has also declared itself quite optimistic about the effectiveness of its drug against the Omicron variant, now the majority in the United States: “This variant is mainly different from other types of Covid at the level of the spike protein. . Our medicine works in a completely different part of the virus. We are therefore very optimistic about the effectiveness of the drug against, and we are currently studying it, “Merck vice president of medical affairs, Eliav Barr, told US media.
A drug that complements the vaccination, but not a substitute for it
This Wednesday, December 22, the FDA also authorized the marketing of a similar pill developed by Pfizer laboratories, Paxlovid. As with molnupiravir, patients will need to show a positive Covid-19 test result to be prescribed this drug. Last week, Pfizer released updated results that showed the treatment reduced the risk of hospitalization or death by 89% if given to high-risk adults within days of onset of symptoms. The United States has ordered 10 million doses.
Due to results deemed disappointing, France has however canceled its order for 50,000 treatments, hoping to receive Pfizer’s antiviral treatment soon.
The FDA reaffirmed on Thursday that these two treatments are indeed drugs that complement vaccination, and which are not intended to replace it.