Food and Drug Administration advisers have narrowly approved the emergency-use authorization of a pill to help treat COVID-19.
The FDA’s Antimicrobial Drugs Advisory Committee voted 13-10 Tuesday to recommend molnupiravir, developed by Merck and Ridgeback Biotherapeutics and touted to lessen the risk of severe illness or death from the coronavirus by about 30%, CNN reported.
The pills are effective only if taken within five days of any detectable symptoms, with a twice-daily regimen for five days.
The FDA will consider the advisory committee’s recommendation and while it isn’t obligated to approve the panel’s guidance, it often does, CNN reported.
