FDA advisory panel narrowly moves to authorize Merck's COVID treatment pill

The FDA itself still needs to officially authorize molnupiravir for people at high risk of severe COVID-19.

April 15, 2025 · 1 min · 58 words · Christopher Rhodes

Merck said Friday that its drug is30% effective at preventing hospitalization and deathcaused by COVID-19.

This isdown from the company’s previous estimateof a 50% reduction of hospitalizations and death.

Pfizer has also asked the FDA to authorize its COVID-19 treatment pill, Paxlovid.

In clinical trials, Pfizer said its COVID-19 treatment pillreduces risk of hospitalization or death by 89%.