Covid antiviral pill halves hospitalisations and deaths, maker says

If approved, Merck’s drug would be first simple oral medication shown to be effective against coronavirus

The first pill to treat coronavirus could be available within months after it was found to cut hospitalisations and deaths by half.

If approved, the antiviral drug would be the first simple pill shown to be effective against Covid-19 and would mark a major advance in the fight against the pandemic. Other drugs such as dexamethasone are already saving the lives of the sickest patients in hospital but need to be given as injections or IV infusions.

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