U.S. regulators authorize 2nd oral antiviral COVID-19 pill

U.S. regulators on Thursday issued an emergency use authorization for an antiviral COVID-19 pill developed by American pharmaceutical firm Merck & Co., giving the country its second such at-home treatment option in the fight against the coronavirus pandemic.The treatment, called molnupiravir, is not recommended during pregnancy due to concerns over birth defects. Its use is limited compared with Pfizer Inc.'s pill that was authorized a day before, although both have been approved for mild-to-moderate coronavirus cases in people at high risk of hospitalization or death.The U.S. Food and Drug…READ FULL ARTICLE