![]() If you haven’t done so already, the most important thing is still to get the vaccine." “Some people might say, ‘I'm not getting vaccinated because I'll have access to these medications’-to this pill or to remdesivir or other treatments. “The vaccine is our first-line tool for preventing hospitalization, and I'm a little concerned that the attention on molnupiravir will draw attention away from vaccination,” says Dr. People who are vaccinated have a much lower chance of getting sick and needing any treatment, they say. With molnupiravir authorized, do we still need vaccines?īoth doctors emphasized that even if new COVID-19 drugs are successful in real-world scenarios, vaccination will remain essential for preventing SARS-CoV-2 infection-and for slowing its spread. More information about side effects of molnupiravir can be found on the FDA site. Men and women of “reproductive potential” should also use contraception for the duration of treatment and, for women, for four days after the last dose of molnupiravir men should continue to use contraception for at least three months after the last dose of molnupiravir. Likewise, breastfeeding is not recommended during treatment with molnupiravir and for four days after the final dose. ![]() If you are pregnant, the provider should prescribe it only if the potential benefits would outweigh the potential risks and has communicated that to you. If you have potential to be pregnant, your health care provider should assess whether you are pregnant or not before prescribing molnupiravir. Molnupiravir is not recommended for use during pregnancy because findings from animal reproduction studies showed that molnupiravir may cause fetal harm when administered to pregnant individuals. How does Merck’s COVID-19 pill (molnupiravir) work? Shaw and other infectious disease experts to answer commonly asked questions about Merck’s new COVID pill. Meanwhile Pfizer reported that its pill (combined with a low dose of ritonavir, an HIV drug) showed 89% efficacy in preventing hospitalization and death in the high-risk patients it studied. This is a pill your physician could write a prescription for, that you could pick up in a drugstore.”Īn early report showed the Merck drug cut the risk of hospitalization and death to 50% in patients who had mild-to-moderate disease, but a final analysis of the trial reported on in November, before the FDA authorization, showed a reduction in that benefit to 30%. “Other COVID-19 treatments, such as remdesivir or monoclonal antibodies against the SARS-CoV-2 virus causing COVID-19, are given intravenously. “It certainly has the potential to be a really important advance,” said Albert Shaw, MD, PhD, a Yale Medicine infectious diseases specialist, when the Merck application was submitted. Pfizer submitted its application in November for a medication called Paxlovid. ![]() Merck applied for authorization first, in October, for a pill called molnupiravir, and many hailed the new drug as a potential game-changer. But in December 2021, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) issued emergency use authorizations (EUAs) for two pills that patients can take at home in the days after COVID-19 symptoms arise to prevent severe disease and avoid going to the hospital. ![]() Over the past year, discussions-sometimes heated ones-about ending the COVID-19 pandemic have largely focused on the availability, effectiveness, and safety of vaccines. Because information about COVID-19 changes rapidly, we encourage you to visit the websites of the Centers for Disease Control & Prevention (CDC), World Health Organization (WHO), and your state and local government for the latest information. Scientists continue to study the real-world effectiveness of both. Note: Since this story about Merck’s molnupiravir was originally published, the Food and Drug Administration has provided emergency use authorizations for pills from both Merck and Pfizer. ![]()
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