Merck reports positive early data for its experimental COVID-19 pill

The experimental COVID-19 treatment developed by Merck and Ridgeback Biotherapeutics eliminated the novel coronavirus in clinical trial participants with symptomatic COVID-19 after five days of treatment, the drugmakers announced March 6.

Advertisement

The announcement is based on early data from a phase 2a clinical trial that involved 202 non-hospitalized COVID-19 patients. The pill, molnupiravir, was well tolerated by the participants and significantly reduced their viral load.

The drugmakers are continuing to study the drug in phase 2/3 clinical programs, which will test it in both outpatient and hospital settings.

More articles on pharmacy:
Moderna vaccine causing delayed rash in some recipients, small study says
COVID-19 drug doesn’t benefit patients with mild illness, study finds
Drugmakers studying how to administer COVID-19 vaccines without a needle

Advertisement

Next Up in Pharmacy

  • CMS published plans Dec. 23 for its voluntary “Better Approaches to Lifestyle and Nutrition for Comprehensive hEalth” — or BALANCE…

Advertisement

Comments are closed.