Merck's at-home antiviral COVID-19 pill gets U.S. authorization
The Hindu
Molnupiravir was shown to reduce hospitalizations and deaths by around 30% in a clinical trial of high-risk individuals early in the course of the illness
The U.S. on Thursday authorized Merck &Co's antiviral pill for COVID-19 for certain high-risk adult patients, a day after giving the go-ahead to a similar but more effective treatment from Pfizer Inc.
Merck's drug, molnupiravir,developed with Ridgeback Biotherapeutics, was shown to reduce hospitalizations and deaths by around 30% in a clinical trial of high-risk individuals early in the course of the illness.
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration authorized Merck's drug to treat mild-to-moderate COVID-19 in adults who are at risk for severe disease, and for whom alternative COVID-19 treatments are not accessible or clinically appropriate.

The High Court of Karnataka on Tuesday ordered the issue of a notice to the State government on a PIL petition, which had complained about disturbances caused to people residing in the localities around the National Public School situated in Rajajinagar 5th block due to use of loudspeakers with high volume in the school and parking of school buses in residential areas.












