[Epoch Times October 06, 2021](Epoch Times reporter Wang Lan reported in Toronto) Australian Prime Minister Morrison announced on Tuesday (October 5) that Australia will provide US pharmaceutical company Merck, also known as Merck, MSD) Purchase 300,000 experimental anti-COVID-19 oral medication courses. Countries including the United Kingdom, Japan, Malaysia, etc., are interested in purchasing Merck’s oral antiviral drugs, and Canada said it is reviewing the drug.
Merck Pharmaceuticals in the United States announced that clinical trials have confirmed that its new oral drug “Molnupiravir” (Molnupiravir) can greatly reduce the risk of severe hospitalization or death for COVID-19 patients. Interim test results show that this drug reduces the risk of infection or hospitalization or death by about half. This data has aroused global attention, and many countries have begun to actively negotiate procurement matters.
Morrison said in an interview with local media on Tuesday that 10 capsules of monabiravir constitute a course of treatment. Every adult infected patient must take two capsules daily for five consecutive days.
Morrison said: “Monabiravir will allow us to coexist with the coronavirus.”
He also said that once approved by the Australian Drug Administration, Australia should be able to receive 300,000 copies of this drug course early next year.
The United Kingdom, Japan, South Korea, Thailand, Taiwan and Malaysia have all stated that they are negotiating with Merck to purchase this oral medicine.
At a press conference last Friday (October 1), the Public Health Agency of Canada (PHAC) stated that Merck had submitted an approval application for monabiravir on August 13. Dr. Supriya Sharma said that Canada is reviewing treatment as more trial data becomes available. Only after reviewing all necessary evidence, Health Canada will make an approval decision.
“We are studying it. We are looking at the data.” She said.
She also said that Health Canada did not have a specific time to complete the review because it may take “several months” and that the drug will be evaluated and “complied with standards” like any other drug or treatment.
Canada currently has four approved treatments for COVID-19, including the COVID-19 monoclonal antibody bamlanivimab made in Canada and the antiviral drug remdesivir. However, these treatments require intravenous injections.
If approved, monabiravir will become the first oral medicine to treat COVID-19.
In an interview with CTV News, Merck’s CEO Robert Davis called the pill a “game changer” that can be used to treat ambulatory, less severe COVID-19 cases at home.
However, with the emergence of more clinical trial data, scientists are also studying the risks of taking this drug.
Editor in charge: Yan Feng
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