The Food and Drug Administration authorized the second pill against COVID-19 earlier today, providing another easy-to-use medication to battle the rising tide brought on by the fast-spreading omicron variant.
U.S. health regulators authorized the use of Merck’s molnupiravir one day after the agency cleared Pfizer’s pill for use.
Pfizer’s pill, “Paxlovid,” will likely be the first-choice treatment against the virus, thanks to its superior benefits and milder side effects.
Merck’s pill is expected to have a less significant role against the pandemic than predicted just a few weeks ago. Its ability to head off severe COVID-19 is much smaller than initially announced, and the drug label will warn of serious safety issues, including the potential for congenital disabilities.
Both treatments will be offered for free to patients in the U.S. after being purchased by the federal government.
