Merck's Covid-19 Pill Cuts Death Rate by Half

Merck's COVID-19 Pill Cuts Mortality Rate in Half US pharmaceutical company Merck announced that an experimental pill it developed against coronavirus disease (COVID-19) reduces hospitalization and death risk by half in people recently infected with the virus. In a statement from Merck and its partner Ridgeback Biotherapeutics, it was reported that among subjects who took the drug "molnupiravir" within 5 days of the onset of COVID-19 symptoms, hospitalization and mortality rates were cut in half compared to those who received "placebo." The statement also noted that applications for authorization to use molnupiravir would be submitted soon in the US and worldwide. In the statement, which pointed to molnupiravir being expected to become the first pill proven to treat COVID-19 if approved, it was noted that patients would need to take the molnupiravir pill twice daily for five days. Earlier trials conducted by Merck on the drug showed that it did not benefit patients with severe symptoms or those who had been hospitalized.