World

UK Approves Oral Pill To Treat COVID-19; Know How It Works

By
OB Bureau

London: A COVID-19 antiviral that can be taken at home was approved for use across the UK on Thursday.

With this, Britain has become the first country to give the go-ahead to Molnupiravir, jointly developed by Ridgeback Biotherapeutics and Merck, which is being considered a potential gamechanger in fighting the pandemic, especially in the case of the frailest and immunosuppressed, the BBC reported.

The UK’s Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency said the tablet has been authorised for use in people who have mild to moderate COVID and at least one risk factor for developing severe illness such as obesity, old age, diabetes or heart disease.

The pill works by interfering with the virus’ replication. This prevents it from multiplying, keeping virus levels low in the body, and thus, reduce the severity of the disease, it said.

The drug needs to be given within five days of symptoms developing to be most effective.

Britain has agreed to purchase 480,000 courses with the first deliveries expected by mid-November.

Molnupiravir will soon be offered to patients, both vaccinated and unvaccinated, in a national study to help protect those most at risk from the virus over the winter, it added.

 

OB Bureau

Recent Posts

TV Actor Nitin Chauhan Of ‘Tera Yaar Hoon Main’ Fame Dies At 35; Was It Suicide?

Mumbai: Television actor Nitin Chauhan’s untimely demise at the age of 35 has once again…

November 8, 2024

Vending On Footpath Banned During Cuttack Bali Jatra; Check Details

Cuttack: Vendors will not be allowed to do business on footpaths during the upcoming Bali…

November 8, 2024

Ranji Trophy: Despite Pattanaik Ton, Odisha Stare At Defeat After Following On Vs Mumbai

Mumbai: Sandeep Pattanaik completed a fighting century but that didn’t help Odisha avoid a follow-on…

November 8, 2024

Former BJD MLA Blames Naveen Patnaik For Party’s Debacle In Odisha Polls

Bhubaneswar: After several Biju Janata Dal (BJD) leaders blamed VK Pandian for the regional party’s…

November 8, 2024

PM Modi Slams Opposition’s Article 370 Resolution: ‘Conspiracy Against Kashmir’

Mumbai: The Congress-National Conference (NC) alliance which formed the government in Jammu & Kashmir after winning…

November 8, 2024

Chief Justice Chandrachud’s Last Day At Work: ‘Forgive Me If I Ever Hurt Anyone’

New Delhi: It was the last day in office for Dhananjaya Yeshwant Chandrachud as Chief…

November 8, 2024

Orissa HC Refuses To Quash FIR Against Lawyer Accused Of Taking Money From Client To Bribe Judge

Cuttack: The Orissa High Court has refused to quash a criminal case against a lawyer…

November 8, 2024

Low Pressure Over Bay Of Bengal In 48 Hours; Check Forecast For Odisha

Bhubaneswar: The cyclonic circulation over southwest Bay of Bengal is likely to intensify into a…

November 8, 2024