Photo provided by Merck and Company
The Chief of Infectious Diseases at LSU Health New Orleans is weighing in on a Covid-19 pill that manufacturer Merck says will reduce hospitalizations and cut in half the number of deaths in people recently infected with the coronavirus.
“This is particular pill would be very good to give to individuals who don’t have access to IV therapy and are at high risk for getting to hospital but don’t need to get in the hospital yet,” said Julio Figueroa.
Merck says it will soon ask the FDA that their Covid pill can receive emergency use authorization, which will lead to further on whether this drug can be used as medicine for treating the virus.
Dr. Figueroa says based on Merck’s own data, the experimental pill is more successful the earlier it’s ingested after the virus is discovered.
“So if you come in with COVID very early on and you are a high-risk individual that’s probably when it’s going to have the most effect,” said Figueroa.
Merck’s anti-Covid 19 pill is taken eight times a day for five days.
Figueroa says the initial results can’t be ignored, but have to be proven further.
“The reduction of hospitalization is 50% if that really does hold up in this high-risk population that’s substantial,” said Figueroa.
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