S. Korea's hope for normalization boosted with positive trial results from Merck

• Published date: 03 October 2009
• Publication title: The Nation - Thailand

Leading global drugmaker Merck and Co announced Friday that its experimental antiviral pill dubbed molnupiravir was shown to halve the chances of hospitalization or death for those infected with COVID-19.

Merck and its partner Ridgeback Biotherapeutics reported that 7.3 percent of patients who received molnupiravir died or were either hospitalized by 29 days after receiving the oral antiviral medicine, as opposed to 14.1 percent for placebo-administered patients.

No COVID-19 patient died after taking molnupiravir, compared to 8 deaths reported from the placebo group, the firms added.

The pill works by blocking the virus from replicating, as does some Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome drugs by inhibiting the replication of human immunodeficiency virus. If approved, it would be the first oral antiviral treatment against COVID-19 on the market.

ADVERTISEMENT

Merck is preparing to file for emergency use authorization from the US Food and Drug Administration as soon as possible as its first step of gaining regulatory approvals from the global market.

The positive trial results from Merck champions Korean authorities' plan to ease COVID-19 restrictions starting November and treat COVID-19 more like seasonal influenza.

Continued struggles of small business owners and declining consumer sentiment from restrictive social distancing rules have caused authorities to discuss easing anti-virus measures and 'live with the coronavirus.'

The government announced earlier the new scheme will kick off when around...