COVID pill may be approved in as little as a few weeks

Merck has applied for an emergency use authorization for a COVID pill that treats mild-to moderate patients of COVID-19, according to a report from Reuters.

Molnupiravir, if it’s approved, will be the first oral antiviral medication for the disease and will change the way we manage COVID-19. Moreover, it could halve the chances of death and hospitalization for those at high risk of contracting the disease severely.

"A safe, effective and affordable oral drug could be a huge step forward in the fight against COVID-19," said Peter Horby, a professor at Oxford University who specializes in emerging infectious diseases.

If approved by the US Food and Drug Administration, this would be the first pill to treat coronavirus. A decision could come in a few weeks.

"This will change the dialogue on how COVID-19 is managed," Merck CEO Robert Davis told Reuters.

[With information from Reuters and AP]