- The Merck drug Molnupiravir, an antiviral pill that treats mild-to-moderate COVID-19 cases, could be given emergency authorization use “within days” in India.
- The drug is for use by adults who are at risk of severe COVID-19 or hospitalization.
- In clinical trials, Pfizer’s Paxlovid reduced the risk of hospitalization and death by 89 percent in vulnerable adults.
NEW DELHI, India: The Merck drug, Molnupiravir, an antiviral pill that treats mild-to-moderate COVID-19 cases, could be given emergency authorization use “within days” in India, according to Dr. Ram Vishwakarma, Chairman of the Covid Strategy Group, as quoted by New Delhi TV.
He added that the drug is for use by adults who are at risk of severe COVID-19 or hospitalization.
Another Covid pill developed by Pfizer, named Paxlovid, may take more time to be approved.
In clinical trials, Pfizer’s Paxlovid reduced the risk of hospitalization and death by 89 percent in vulnerable adults.
“As we move from pandemic to endemic, these are the ones which are going to be more important than vaccination,” he added, saying the two drugs will make a difference in treating COVID-19.
Data for Molnupiravir has been “sitting with the regulator” prior to receiving UK regulator’s approval, Vishwakarma said.
“So already SECs are looking at it. And I think they will they will get faster approval now. And, therefore, it would it be safe to say that within the next one month,” it should become available, he noted.
Five companies have already been contracted by Merck, and Pfizer is likely to do the same in order to utilize India’s capacity to manufacture the drugs, he said.
“I think here when the government of India comes into play, they will buy in bulk from these companies and, of course, they will have a dual pricing system and a staggered pricing system,” he added.
