Merck’s new antiviral pill, Molnupiravir, cuts the risk of hospitalization and death due to COVID-19 by half.

At least, that’s what a randomized clinical trial of 775 patients shows. No deaths were identified in those receiving Molnupiravir, compared with eight deaths among those receiving a placebo. Treatment was started early after initial symptom onset with an easy five-day course of twice-daily pills.

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