Tue 05 October 2021:
If the Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) approves Molnupiravir, a developing oral therapy for COVID-19, Australia would buy 300,000 courses, according to Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison.
Molnupiravir is a novel COVID-19 medication in the form of a capsule developed by Merck Sharp & Dohme and Ridgeback Biotherapeutics. According to the inventors, clinical trials have demonstrated that the medication is effective against all COVID-19 variations and reduces the risk of hospitalization or death by half.
But while the promising early results have been warmly welcomed, some are cautioning they want to see more work done before the drug is made available locally.
“If the medical experts at the TGA approve this treatment for use, it will join other COVID-19 treatments such as sotrovimab and remdesivir, which are already available to Australian doctors to help treat those with COVID-19,” Morrison was quoted as saying by The Australian.
Morrison also noted that the vaccination rate in Australia is rising, so the government is now closely following COVID-19 drugs currently in development and is working on ensuring the supply of promising treatments.
“Vaccines and new treatments like this will boost our National Plan to safely reopen Australia and keep Australia safely open,” the prime minister added.
Molnupiravir stops the virus from reproducing and multiplying its genetic code. The Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) will begin studying the medicine this year, but it will not be widely used until the beginning of 2022. The cost of the treatment has yet to be determined.
If approved, Molnupiravir will become the first oral antiviral medication for COVID-19.
Unlike many other effective treatments for COVID, “molnu” (as it is known) is a pill, rather than an injection — making it easier to take and to distribute widely.
It is best used on people with symptoms that do not require hospitalisation.
It is taken twice a day for five days and does not need to be stored in a fridge.
Interim results found of those given the drug, 7.3 per cent were hospitalised and none died 29 days after treatment.
Of those given a placebo, there was a hospitalisation rate of 14.1 per cent and eight died.
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