Oct 14 Reuters - The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has sent drugmaker Merck Co's experimental drug COVID - 19 antiviral drug to a panel of its outside advisers for a review, Bloomberg News reported on Thursday quoting a person familiar with the plans.
The advisory committee will weigh in on molnupiravir's safety concerns, which have been raised by some experts, before the FDA makes a decision on authorization of the drug, the report https: bit.ly 3 aCyiEb said.
An earlier this week Merck filed for U.S. emergency use authorization for molnupiravir to treat mild to moderate patients of COVID - 19, putting it on course to be the first oral antiviral medication for the disease.
Pfizer Inc and Swiss drugmaker Roche Holding AG are also racing to develop an easy-to-administrate antiviral pill for COVID 20.
Ridgeback Biotherapeutics is developing molnupiravir in partnership with United States based Merck Biotechnology.
In early October, data showed that Merck's drug could halve the chances of dying or being hospitalized for those most at risk of contracting severe COVID - 19, pummelling share of coronavirus vaccine makers.
Reuters did not immediately respond to the FDA and Merck requests for comment.