Merck says experimental pill cuts worst effects of COVID-19

[Nevilledog]

https://apnews.com/article/merck-says-experimental-covid-pill-cuts-worst-effects-a9a2245fdcee324f6bbd776a0fffcc60

WASHINGTON (AP) — Drugmaker Merck said Friday that its experimental COVID-19 pill reduced hospitalizations and deaths by half in people recently infected with the coronavirus, potentially a leap forward in the global fight against the pandemic.

The company said it will soon ask health officials in the U.S. and around the world to authorize the pill’s use. A decision from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration could come within weeks after that, and the drug, if OK’d, could be distributed quickly soon afterward.

If cleared, it would be the first pill shown to treat COVID-19. All other therapies now authorized in the U.S. require an IV or injection. A pill taken at home, by contrast, would ease pressure on hospitals and could also help curb outbreaks in poorer and more remote corners of the world that don’t have access to the more expensive infusion therapies.

“This would allow us to treat many more people, much more quickly and, we trust, much less expensively,” said Dr. William Schaffner, an infectious disease expert at Vanderbilt University, who was not involved in the research.

*snip*

[Mad_Machine76]

1. Good news!

[Wounded Bear]

2. "Much less expensively" Aye, there's the rub...nt

[FBaggins]

6. Logistics are an issue too

There are other therapies that are showing similar reductions in mortality that are free to the patient - but involve going somewhere that can give you an IV. Even if that isn't a hospital, and even if there isn't an availability crunch in your area... it's still logistically challenging both personally and for the healthcare system.

If there's a pill that can just be picked up at your pharmacy and is safe enough to assume that most people can take it just because they've tested positive... that would put a huge dent in this beast. Frankly... even if it were more expensive.

[Wounded Bear]

8. Indeed! Much easier to ship and dispense, too...

assuming there isn't some special reqs for this, but you'd assume a pill would be a room temp with possibly a moisture preventive like a dessicant insert in the packaging.

Didn't mean to rain on the parade, I think this is great if they can pull it off. Much simpler than an IV.

[CaliforniaPeggy]

3. A big, fat K&R!

[lagomorph777]

4. "Merck's pill works by interfering with the coronavirus's ability to copy its genetic code..."

Had to scroll almost to the bottom of the article to find that.

[JohnSJ]

5. By 50%. Vaccines are the preferred way to go, but this should help ease the strain on hospitals

It isn’t a cure or prevention, but a treatment to reduce hospitalizations and death

[Wounded Bear]

9. If it will ameliorate the symptoms it would be a huge deal...nt

[roamer65]

7. Just watch.

These unvaxxed covidiots will go whole hog on this experimental drug.

[IronLionZion]

10. This could be a game changer for people suffering from long COVID

[crickets]

11. Good news. For those wondering, the name of the drug is molnupiravir. nt