Merck’s Covid drug will do it now, just in time for Omicron

Last month, the UK became the first country to approve molnupiravir, a Covid-19 treatment developed by Ridgeback Biotherapeutics and Merck & Co. manufacture. On Tuesday, an advisory panel convened by the US Food and Drug Administration voted in favor of authorizing emergency use of the antiviral as well. But between the two approvals, Merck released some data that showed the drug was less effective than initially thought and far less effective than a rival drug from Pfizer, the company’s Also asking for permission for emergency use.