In a boost to the fight against the pandemic, Britain became the first country in the world to approve a potentially game-changing COVID-19 antiviral tablet created jointly by Merck (MRK.N) and Ridgeback Biotherapeutics.
The Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) advised using molnupiravir as soon as feasible after a positive COVID-19 test and within five days of the commencement of symptoms.
This is the first oral antiviral treatment for COVID-19 to be approved, and the approval comes ahead of any prospective regulatory approval in the United States. This month, US experts will decide on whether molnupiravir should be approved. find out more
The medicine, which will be marketed in the United Kingdom as Lagevrio, has been keenly monitored since studies released last month revealed that if taken early in the illness, it might half the odds of dying or being hospitalized for people most at risk of developing severe COVID-19.
In due course, the British government and the National Health Service will confirm how the treatment will be delivered to patients.
Last month, the United Kingdom reached an agreement with Merck to acquire 480,000 molnupiravir courses.
Merck said in a separate statement that it expects to manufacture 10 million courses of the treatment by the end of this year, with at least 20 million by 2022.
Before the market opened, the shares of the drugmaker located in the United States were up 2.1 percent at $90.54.
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