Headline RoundupOctober 11th, 2021

Merck Asks FDA for Emergency Approval of Antiviral COVID-19 Pill

Summary from the AllSides News Team

Pharmaceutical drugmaker Merck and its partner Ridgeback Biotherapeutics announced Monday that it has asked the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for emergency approval of its COVID-19 pill. The company says the pill, called molnupiravir, reduced the risk of hospitalization or death in patients with mild to moderate COVID-19 by about 50% in a late-stage clinical trial. Researchers at Emory University in Atlanta created the pill; using the pill involves taking several twice a day for five days. The Biden administration committed $3.2 billion to the development of an antiviral in June.

The news was covered prominently across the spectrum, especially by left- and center-rated outlets. Some reports from right-rated sources highlighted advocates who say the treatment's projected price — roughly $700 — is roughly 40 times the production cost.

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