COVID-19 pill cuts risk of hospitalization, death by half, Merck says

If authorized, molnupiravir would be the first antiviral pill for treating COVID-19.

The pandemic haskilled more than 4.7 million people worldwide, including nearly 700,000 in the US.

Last month, data from Johns Hopkins University showed thataround 1 in 500 Americanshave died from the coronavirus.

While the availableCOVID-19 vaccines are highly effective, millions of American have not yet gotten a shot.