In recent months, the discussions around preventing COVID-19 illness with pills have progressed massively. And now, the United Kingdom has also become the first-ever country to approve anti-Covid pills. The government of the UK has supported the use of the antiviral drug by Merck to treat patients with mild to moderate levels of COVID-19. The Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency of the UK has stated that the trials of Merck’s anti-viral pills had concluded that they were reliable and efficient at reducing the risk of hospitalization and death in people with mild to moderate COVID-19.
While stating the report, Secretary of state for Health and Social Sajid Javid said that it is a historic day for the UK, as it is now the first country in the world to approve an antiviral that can be taken at home for COVID-19.
“This will be a game-changer for the most vulnerable and the immunosuppressed, who will soon be able to receive the ground-breaking treatment”
- Sajid Javid
The covid antiviral which is approved by the UK is called Molnupiravir, and it is created by a healthcare company named Merck. This antiviral drug works by decreasing the ability of the virus to replicate, consequently lowering the disease.
Several clinical trials of Molnupiravir have found the antiviral pill to be efficient in decreasing the risk of hospitalization and death. However, medical experts have likewise stated that the treatment by anti-viral pills is not the antidote and it cannot be utilized as a substitute for COVID-19 vaccinations.
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