U.K. Approves Merck Antiviral Pill To Treat COVID-19

The pill is licensed for adults 18 or older who have tested positive for the virus and have at least one health risk factor.

Britain granted conditional authorization Thursday to the first pill shown to successfully treat COVID-19 so far. It also is the first country to OK the treatment from drugmaker Merck, although it wasn't immediately clear how quickly the pill would be available.

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The pill was licensed for adults 18 and older who have tested positive for COVID-19 and have at least one risk factor for developing severe disease, such as obesity or heart disease. Patients with mild-to-moderate COVID-19 would take four pills of the drug, known molnupiravir, twice a day for five days.