On Thursday, the Food and Drug Administration approved Merck’s Antiviral Pill to Treat Covid-19 as an Emergency Use. This is another weapon in the country’s arsenal against the virus.

This FDA move is just a day after the FDA had authorized it for another antiviral drug, from Pfizer. The agency stated that Merck’s treatment, molnupiravir, was developed in collaboration with Ridgeback Biotherapeutics and is approved for adults suffering from mild or moderate Covid. Pfizer’s Pill was approved for use by children as young 12 years old.

Merck’s oral treatment, as well as Pfizer’s is able to be administered at home without the need for an IV. As new infections continue to increase, this could benefit the hospitals across the country.

Clinical trials found the treatment reduced the risk of hospitalization and death among high-risk Covid patients by 30 percent.

Pfizer’s drug is, in comparison, shown to be effective. 89 percent effective at preventing high-risk people from being hospitalized or dying from Covid. Pfizer will have a much smaller supply of treatment than Merck initially. Physicians may be faced with a difficult decision about which option they should recommend for their patients.

United States It has agreed to purchase about 3.1 million courses of Merck’s drug for $2.2 billion. Jeff Zients from the White House Covid-19 respond coordinator said Wednesday during a briefing, that most of the treatment courses may be accessible to the states or jurisdictions before January 31 if they are authorized.

A FDA advisory committee met last month voted narrowly in favor of recommending the treatment. This close vote was due to concerns raised by committee members about safety and efficacy of the drug.

FDA suggested that patients using Merck’s treatment use contraception for at least four days.

The agency states that side effects could include nausea, dizziness, and diarrhea.

Merck scientists presented their findings to the advisory board on Nov. 30. They stated that they believe the drug would work against the Omicron variant of the virus. This is because it contains similar mutations as other variants. However, further testing will still be needed.

Merck’s complete treatment consists in 40 pills. These pills are taken four times daily, each 200 mg, for five consecutive days. Within five days from the first onset of symptoms, patients should start the treatment. The November advisory committee meeting was attended by the drugmaker, who stressed the need for patients to complete the prescribed treatment.