The COVID-19 Technical Committee has approved the use of Molnupiravir, a drug introduced by US pharmaceutical company ‘Merck’ to control COVID-19 in Sri Lanka.
State Minister of Production, Supply and Regulation of Pharmaceuticals Channa Jayasumana last Thursday consulted Director General of Health Services Dr. Asela Gunawardena into the use of the oral antiviral pill, Molnupiravir for COVID-19 treatment.
The State Minister in a letter to the Director-General said the pharmaceutical company ‘Merck’ announced last week that Molnupiravir is widely prescribed and ordered by several countries for COVID-19 treatment as it reduces the risk of hospitalisations and deaths among the public related to the virus.
Accordingly, the COVID-19 Technical Committee has responded to the State Minister’s inquiry pertaining to the usage of the drug for COVID management locally.
In clinical trials, the pill, originally developed to treat flu, cut the risk of hospitalisation or death by about half.
