While the first oral COVID 19 pills were approved in Japan in late December 2021, some experts doubt the impact of the medication in the country, noting that prescriptions are limited to certain patients.
In a Jan. 13 news conference, Takaji Wakita, head of the National Institute of Infectious Diseases, pointed out that molnupiravir pills from U.S. pharmaceutical company Merck Co. are still hard to use, unlike the oral medication Tamiflu is used for the flu. He said he hoped to see other drugs in the future.
As of Jan. 16, the Japanese government had distributed some 34,200 doses of molnupiravir to about 10,700 medical institutions and pharmacies. The pills target COVID 19 patients with mild to moderate symptoms that could become severe. Patients aged 61 or older are included, as well as those aged 18 or older who have a preexisting condition or a BMI of 30 or over. Such patients are supposed to start using the medication within five days after developing symptoms, and take four capsules twice a day for five days. A clinical trial found that among patients with a high risk of their symptoms becoming severe, the drug lowered the risk of hospitalization or death by 30%.
Hideaki Oka, a professor specializing in infectious diseases at Saitama Medical Center, said that the drug targets are limited, and there is a possibility that its effectiveness is not that high. It is not clear how effective the drug is in preventing aftereffects. He also cited issues with how the medication is taken, saying it is difficult for elderly patients who have a weak ability to swallow to take 2 centimeter-long capsules, and that the dosage is large.