In a clinical trial conducted by their Indian partner Hetero, the company said Covid-19 antiviral pill molnupiravir reduced the risk of hospitalization by over 65%.
A doctor in Bari holds a pill.
Researchers compared outcomes for 1,218 patients who were given Hetero's generic version of molnupiravir after testing positive for Covid against patients who receivedtypical medical care, measuring hospitalization rates after 14 days.
Researchers found that patients taking molnupiravir showed improvement within five days.
Hetero entered into a deal with Merck to produce a generic form of molnupiravir, which was granted an emergency use authorization in India in December.
The company said it will produce 20 million courses of molnupiravir.
A study published in November estimated the effectiveness of molnupiravir at just 30%. France canceled an order for the drug in December after disappointing results, instead choosing to rely on Pfizer's competing anti-viral pill Paxlovid, which was found to reduce the risk of hospitalization or death by 89%. molnupiravir has been approved for use in the U.K. and the U.S. In the year 2021, the company produced 10 million courses of molnupiravir. Dr. Anthony Fauci said that authorizing oral Covid-19 treatments is an important step in ending the Pandemic. Hospitals in Michigan, New York, Ohio and Rhode Island ran out of drugs in January due to a winter surge of the virus.
The experts worry that the pills might discourage people from getting the vaccine. One in eight people in a City University of New York study said they would rather be treated with a pill than have a vaccine.
The experts worry that the pills might discourage people from getting the vaccine. One in eight people in a City University of New York study said they would rather be treated with a pill than have a vaccine.
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