The United Kingdom on Thursday, 4 November, became the first country in the world to approve a Merck's pill for treating COVID-19, making it the first oral antiviral for the treatment of the novel coronavirus.
UK’s Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency authorised Molnupiravir for the treatment of the mild-moderate COVID-19 cases, who are at an "increased risk of developing severe disease", the UK government said in press release.
The drug called Lagevrio is developed by Ridgeback Biotherapeutics and Merck Sharp & Dohme (MSD). The MHRA informed that the drug is most effective in the early stages of infection and recommended to use it as soon as one tests positive.