Merck and its partner Ridgeback Biotherapeutics said early results showed patients who received the drug, called molnupiravir, within five days of COVID-19 symptoms had about half the rate of hospitalization and death as patients who received a dummy pill. The study tracked 775 adults with mild-to-moderate COVID-19 who were considered higher risk for severe disease due to health problems such as obesity, diabetes or heart disease. The results have not been peer reviewed by outside experts, the usual procedure for vetting new medical research.
Among patients taking molnupiravir, 7.3% were either hospitalized or died at the end of 30 days, compared with 14.1% of those getting the dummy pill. There were no deaths in the drug group after that time period compared with eight deaths in the placebo group, according to Merck.
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Earlier study results showed the drug did not benefit patients who were already hospitalized with severe disease.
The drug is not yet approved for use by the FDA. Only God knows how much it will cost.
Steve Parker, M.D.
Advanced Mediterranean Diet 
This is such a great breakthrough. Hope it will help control this pandemic in countries lacking the vaccines.
Too soon to tell if it’s great breakthrough.