Australians will soon be able to access the new Covid-19 pill.
Prime Minister Scott Morrison announced on Monday that 300,000 courses of promising medicine Covid-19 Molnupiravir had been purchased by the govt..
Molnupiravir has been shown to stop people with Covid-19 from severe symptoms, with a recent trial finding that a replacement pill reduced the danger of hospitalization or death from Covid-19 by 50 percent.
Mr Morrison said once the treatment was approved by the Therapeutic Goods Administration, Molnupiravir would join Australia’s largest defense sector in Covid-19.
“Vaccines and new treatments like these will enhance our national commit to reopen Australia safely and keep Australia open safely,” the Prime Minister said on Monday.
“While our immunization rate has continued to rise, we’ve got been investing heavily and monitoring the research into Covid-19 treatment drugs and finding promising drugs.
“If health workers at TGA allow this treatment to be used, it’ll join other Covid-19 therapies like sotrovimab and remdesivir that are available to Australian doctors to assist treat those with Covid-19.”
Molnupiravir could be a capsule taken twice every day for five days by older patients with mild Covid-19 symptoms.
The makers of a replacement drug, Merck Sharp & Dohme and Ridgeback Biotherapeutics, recently announced that Molnupiravir clinical trials have shown that the pill has cut a patient’s risk of hospitalization or death because of Covid-19 in half.
The pill has been found to be effective altogether kinds of coronavirus, including Delta’s highly transmitted variables.
Pending its approval, Molnupiravir are the primary oral antiviral agent on the Covid-19 market.
Molnupiravir TGA testing will occur by the tip of 2021 with the delivery of the pill to the National Medical Stockpile expected to require place in early 2022.
Health Minister Greg Hunt said the govt. would still evaluate alternative Covid-19 treatments.
“All Covid-19 treatment testing procedures are considered extremely important as a part of the Government’s response to the epidemic,” Mr Hunt said.
“The TGA allows for information on the efficacy and safety of Covid-19 therapies as available to approve initial use in Australia without violating any measures.
“In addition, our government will still seek alternative therapies that may benefit Australians living with Covid-19.”
Australia recently defended two dedicated Covid-19 treatments, remdesivir and sotrovimab. Both of those treatments should be administered intravenously.
Molnupiravir isn’t only easier to administer than intravenous injections, but the capsule also doesn’t require refrigeration. this could allow new treatments to be employed in the community or as interventions targeting high-risk areas and rural areas.
On August 9, 2021, TGA granted a short lived injunction to Merck Sharp & Dohme allowing US-based companies to use for a brief registration of Molnupiravir in Australia.
Temporary determination is a vital opening within the drug approval process.
Merck Sharp & Dohme is predicted to use for a final temporary registration soon, but Molnupiravir continues to be expected to be available to the general public until early next year.