EMA Recommends Merck’s COVID-19 Antiviral Pill

November 23, 2021

Last Friday, the European Union’s drug regulator recommended the use of Merck’s COVID-19 antiviral pill, molnupiravir. Earlier this month, Britain became the first country to grant authorization. While molnupiravir has yet to be authorized by E.U. countries or the U.S., this can be expected in the upcoming months.

In an earlier clinical trial, molnupiravir was observed to cut the rate of hospitalization and death in high-risk COVID patients by half, especially when taken early into a COVID-19 infection. It can be taken orally from home to treat mild to moderate symptoms. Read more about molnupiravir here.

Pfizer has also developed a COVID-19 antiviral pill, which is pending FDA authorization. Pfizer’s pill, Paxlovid, and molnupiravir, are currently the only two candidates catering to at-home treatment. Monocolonal antibodies, which are being used to treat COVID-19 infections, must be administered by infusion. AstraZeneca’s antibody treatment, AZD7442, is a single injection.