President directs to import Molnupiravir antiviral COVID drug through SPC
President Gotabaya Rajapaksa has directed State Minister of
Pharmaceuticals Prof. Channa Jayasumana to take required measures to import the
antiviral medication for COVID-19, Molnupiravir, through the State
Pharmaceuticals Corporation (SPC).
Rolling out Molnupiravir antiviral pill to treat symptomatic
coronavirus cases in Sri Lanka was discussed at the meeting of Special
Committee on COVID-19 Control held earlier today.
Molnupiravir, which works by interfering with the virus’
replication, is developed by the U.S. drug companies Merck, Sharp and Dohme
(MSD) and Ridgeback Biotherapeutics.
It is the first-ever
antiviral medication for COVID-19 that can be taken as a pill rather than
injected or given intravenously.
Last week, Sri Lanka’s COVID-19 Technical Committee granted
approval for the use of oral antiviral pill ‘Molnupiravir’ in Sri Lanka.
Earlier this month, the UK medicines regulator had also
green-lighted molnupiravir.
Among adults with mild to moderate COVID who were at risk of
developing serious disease, it is said to cut the chances of being hospitalized
or dying in half.
This prevents it from multiplying, keeping virus levels low
in the body and therefore reducing the severity of the disease.
Based on the clinical trial data, Lagevrio is most effective
when taken during the early stages of infection and therefore it has been
recommended for use as soon as possible following a positive COVID-19 test and
within five days of symptoms onset.
UK’s Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency
(MHRA) had authorized Molnupiravir for use in people who have mild to moderate
COVID-19 and at least one risk factor for developing severe illness. Such risk
factors include obesity, older age (>60 years), diabetes mellitus, or heart
disease.
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