The White House chief medical adviser stressed, however, that such a pill should in no way replace getting vaccinated against the virus.
The pill, called molnupiravir, works by interfering with the coronavirus’s ability to copy its genetic code and reproduce itself. Patients with mild to moderate COVID-19 who were considered higher risk for severe disease took the pill twice a day for five days to complete a course of treatment. An independent group of medical experts monitoring the trial recommended stopping early because the interim results were so strong.
As effective as Merck’s drug may be, Fauci stressed that it is in no way a replacement for the COVID-19 vaccine, which is the most effective way for people infected with the disease to prevent hospitalization and death.
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