Molnupiravir … 1st Pill to Treat COVID-19 Approved in UK

The British government approved, on Thursday, the first pill designed to treat symptomatic Covid-19.

The tablet, molnupiravir, is supposed to be given twice a day to vulnerable patients recently diagnosed with the disease. In clinical trials the pill, originally developed to treat flu, cut the risk of hospitalization or death by about half.

On his part, Health Secretary Sajid Javid said the treatment was a "gamechanger" for the most frail and immunosuppressed.

"Today is a historic day for our country, as the UK is now the first country in the world to approve an antiviral that can be taken at home for Covid," Javid said in a statement.

Molnupiravir, developed by the US drug companies Merck, Sharp and Dohme (MSD), and Ridgeback Biotherapeutics, is the first antiviral medication for Covid which can be taken as a pill rather than injected or given intravenously.

The UK has agreed to purchase 480,000 courses with the first deliveries expected by mid-November. It is going to be given to both vaccinated and unvaccinated patients through a national study, with extra data on its effectiveness collected before any decision to order more.

Moreover, the drug shall be given within five days of symptoms developing to be most effective. Nevertheless, it is not clear how it will be distributed so quickly by the NHS.

Some care homes may be offered supplies while other elderly or vulnerable patients may be prescribed it by their GP after testing positive for Covid.