There may soon be Covid-19 treatment pills in Malaysia that can effectively prevent severe illnesses like hospitalisation and death.
An experimental antiviral pill named molnupiravir developed by Merck & Co (MRK.N), according to data, could halve the chances of dying or being hospitalized for those most at risk of contracting severe Covid-19. It would also become the first oral antiviral medication for Covid-19 if authorised.
According to Reuters, a planned interim analysis of 775 patients in Merck’s study found that 7.3per cent of those given molnupiravir twice a day for five days were hospitalized and none had died by 29 days after treatment.
The pill does not only effectively prevent all kinds of variants, but would also be safe and affordable. Merck has agreed to license the drug to several India-based generic drugmakers, which would be able to supply the treatment to low and middle-income countries.
Malaysia’s Minister of Health Khairy Jamaluddin shared a Twitter posting regarding the drug yesterday, stating: “As we transition to living with COVID, we will be adding new, innovative treatment options to our arsenal in addition to vaccines,”.
He also said that he has already started negotiating for Malaysia to procure these effective drugs that have gone through clinical trials, so Malaysia may soon have the pills available to treat patients.
Also Read: KKM: People Who Have Obesity Are 7 Times More Likely To Have Severe Symptoms If Infected Covid-19
