Merck Says It Has the First Antiviral Pill Found to Be Effective Against Covid October 1, 2021 Auto Bot Clinical Trials, Coronavirus (2019-nCoV), Food and Drug Administration, Merck & Company Inc, molnupiravir, Ridgeback Biotherapeutics 0 The drug maker will seek authorization for molnupiravir, the first drug of its kind for Covid. Experts said such pills could be a powerful tool against the virus.