FDA Authorizes Second Pill To Treat COVID-19 In Adults

WASHINGTON, DC — Federal health officials on Thursday gave the green light to a second pill developed to treat mild to moderate COVID-19 symptoms in adults, according to an announcement from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.

The authorization comes just a day after the agency cleared Paxlovid, a competing drug from Pfizer. Paxlovid is likely to become the first-choice treatment against the virus, thanks to its superior benefits and milder side effects, according to an Associated Press report.

Molnupiravir, created by drugmaker Merck and Ridgeback Biotherapeutics, was developed to treat people who are at high risk for developing severe COVID-19 symptoms.

While using the drug could prevent hospitalization or even death, according to an FDA statement, its use is "limited to situations where other FDA-authorized treatments for COVID-19 are inaccessible or are not clinically appropriate."

“As new variants of the virus continue to emerge, it is crucial to expand the country’s arsenal of COVID-19 therapies using emergency use authorization, while continuing to generate additional data on their safety and effectiveness," Dr. Patrizia Cavazzoni, director of the FDA’s Center for Drug Evaluation and Research, said in a statement.

The Merck drug will carry a warning against use during pregnancy. Women of childbearing age should use birth control during treatment and for a few days after while men should use birth control for at least three months after their final dose, the FDA said. The federal agency also said molnupiravir should not be used in patients under age 18 because it may affect bone and cartilage growth.

Merck's pill is expected to have a smaller role against the pandemic than predicted just a few weeks ago. Its ability to head off severe COVID-19 is much smaller than initially announced and the drug label will warn of serious safety issues, including the potential for birth defects.

Both treatments will be free to patients in the United States after being purchased by the federal government.

RELATED: Pfizer At-Home COVID-19 Pill Gets FDA Green Light As Virus Surges

The Associated Press contributed reporting to this story.