MERCK & CO. VIA AP, FILE
This undated photo provided by Merck & Co shows their new antiviral drug. Merck is allowing another pharmaceutical company to make the Covid-19 pill, molnupiravir, to give millions of people wider access in poor countries.
LONDON, THURSDAY — Britain became the first country in the world to use oral pills for the Covid-19 antiviral drug, manufactured by pharmaceutical companies Merck and Ridgeback Biotherapeutics. The UK’s Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) has granted conditional permission for the use of a Covid-19 drug called molnupiravir, Thursday (4/11/2021).
The first oral pill that has been shown to be successful in treating Covid-19 must be taken as soon as possible after a person is found to be positive for Covid-10 and within five days of the onset of symptoms. Molnupiravir pills should only be given to people 18 years of age and older with Covid-19 who have at least one risk factor for severe disease, such as obesity or heart disease.
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