Prognosis
China Approves Merck’s Covid Therapy Amid Shortage of Drugs
- Drug approved for treating mild, moderate Covid in adults
- Shionogi’s Covid therapy also seeking approval in China
Merck’s molnupiravir Covid-19 antiviral drug.
Source: Merck & Co
This article is for subscribers only.
China approved Merck & Co.’s Covid-19 antiviral molnupiravir for emergency use as Beijing seeks to expand access to treatments amid a massive wave of infections following its abrupt pivot away from Covid Zero in early December.
The drug, known by the brand name Lagevrio, has been granted conditional emergency approval for treating mild and moderate infections among adults at risk of progressing to severe disease, China’s National Medical Products Administration said Friday. It’s the second foreign Covid-19 treatment cleared for use in China after authorities gave Pfizer Inc.’s Paxlovid the go-ahead in early 2022.