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COVID-19 antiviral pills raise hopes for curbing pandemic
Promising clinical data for two small molecules targeting SARS-CoV-2 usher in era of antiviral drug that can be taken in outpatient and low-income settings.
Outpatient treatment options for COVID-19 have opened up with the announcement of positive clinical data on two new antiviral drugs, from Merck and Pfizer. Provided they are given early enough in infection, both compounds could help patients most at risk from disease, reducing the likelihood of hospitalizations and death. On 4 November, Lagevrio (molnupiravir), developed by Merck and Ridgeback Biotherapeutics—a nucleoside analog targeting RNA-dependent RNA polymerase—gained approval in the United Kingdom. Two weeks later, Pfizer too had applied for Emergency Use Authorization from US authorities for the small-molecule protease inhibitor Paxlovid (PF-07321332 plus ritonavir), which is in phase 2/3 trials. The availability of these two pills, which can be used in a wide range of settings across the globe, promises to widen the treatment options to fight the pandemic, especially in countries where vaccination rollouts have been slow or non-existent.