Taiwan could secure supplies of molnupiravir, which makers say significantly reduces the risk of hospitalization or death from COVID-19, by the end of the year, according to Health and Welfare Minister Chen Shih-chung (???).

Chen told legislators Wednesday the government was already in talks with the drug’s developers, with plans to import molnupiravir as soon as emergency use authorization (EUA) was received from the United States’ Food and Drug Administration.

The developers hope to obtain the EUA in November, according to Chen.

Phase 3 clinical trials of the orally administered molnupiravir was conducted in over 20 countries, including Taiwan.

According to an Oct. 1 statement from the drug’s developers Merck & Co. and Ridgeback Biotherapeutics, interim results show that molnupiravir reduces the risk of hospitalization or death from COVID-19 by approximately 50 percent.

The patients involved in the trial had mild to moderate COVID-19 and were considered at risk for more serious complications from the disease, due to factors such as age and a history of heart disease or diabetes, the statement said.

Source: Focus Taiwan News Channel