Study Says Merck’s Antiviral COVID Drug Doesn’t Work So Well Either

A new study found that the COVID-19 antiviral drug Molnupiravir speeds up the recovery from the virus, but it does not decrease the death or hospitalization rate for high-risk adults who have been vaccinated.

Molnupiravir is a drug that can be taken by Ridgeback Biotherapeutics and Merck & Co. to treat mild to moderate COVID-19. It can also be used at home to treat symptoms within five days.

It stops the virus replicating and reduces its severity.

The study was peer reviewed and published in The Lancet, Dec. 22.