April 19, 2024

Athens News

News in English from Greece

Greece orders Covid-19 pills

Greece has launched a procedure for the immediate administration of the drug (tablet) from the coronavirus by the pharmaceutical company MSD (Merck USA and Canada).

As soon as the first oral antiviral drug for COVID-19 is approved in Europe, our country will be able to receive it immediately.

According to the information, the contacts of the Greek government with the MSD concern are at a very advanced stage for ordering a new antiviral treatment with pills from a well-known pharmaceutical company. The drug is already at the approval stage.

MSD has applied for an Emergency License (EUA) with the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for molnupiravir (molnupiravir), an oral antiviral drug for the treatment of mild to moderate COVID and prevents the risk of severe illness COVID-19 and / or hospitalizations.

The World Health Organization (WHO) awaits complete clinical data on the antiviral drug prepared by MSD. The tablet approval request is expected to be reviewed by the end of November. The US has already pledged 17 million doses of the drug, while in Europe – pharmaceutical executives estimate – the green light for an experimental (for now) but promising treatment is expected by the end of the year or next January.

In addition to Greece, there are other countries that have also made orders for coronavirus pills: England, France, Switzerland, Malaysia, etc.

In addition to the steps taken by countries to conclude bilateral agreements with the company, similar actions are being taken by the Commission on behalf of the EU.

The production of molnupiravir began in the summer of 2020 for the needs of clinical trials. Note that it reduces the risk of hospitalization or death by about 50% in patients with mild to moderate COVID-19, as reported a few days ago. It is taken orally and acts by suppressing the multiplication of the virus in the body.

If approved by regulators, molnupiravir will be the first oral antiviral drug against coronavirus.





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