Molnupiravir: A home-used drug for the treatment of Covid

Produced by the US-based pharmaceutical company MSD and Ridgeback Biotherapeutics, Molnupiravir is the first private oral antiviral drug used to treat Covid.

The UK Medicines Regulatory Agency (MHRA) has granted approval for the use of Molnupiravir, a drug developed for the treatment of Covid-19 and taken orally. The pill will be given twice a day to fragile patients who have been diagnosed with Covid.

British Health Minister Sajid Javid said the treatment was of a “groundbreaking” nature for the most fragile patients and those with very weak immunity. Javid said: “Today is a historic day for our country. The UK has become the first country in the world to approve a home-used drug for the treatment of Covid,” the company said in a statement.