The US pharmaceutical company Merck & Co and its partner Ridgeback want to quickly use their corona drug in the USA with an emergency approval.
The companies have submitted a corresponding application for their drug molnupiravir to the US health authority FDA, they announced on Monday in Kenilworth and Miami. This could make the tablets the first orally administered drug to treat Covid-19. The drug is intended to be used in adults with mild to moderate Covid 19 disease who are threatened with severe symptoms or hospitalization. The drug is said to reduce the risk of hospitalization or death for patients by about half.
Merck had presented study data on the drug in early October, whereupon the share price rose sharply. In return, the cure from manufacturers of corona vaccines had come under pressure.
In trading on the NYSE, Merck shares are at times a marginal 0.06 percent higher at 80.68 US dollars.
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