Data suggest Merck could be first in U.S. to gain EUA for oral antiviral

A Phase III readout showing that Merck’s oral antiviral therapy reduced the likelihood of hospitalization or death from COVID-19 drove the pharma’s market cap up by $16 billion Friday, although questions remain about how quickly the company can satisfy demand and who will be eligible to receive the treatment.

Merck & Co. Inc. (NYSE:MRK) will seek an emergency use authorization as quickly as possible for molnupiravir (MK-4482), the antiviral pill it is developing with Ridgeback Biotherapeutics L.P., after interim data from the MOVe-OUT study showed that it cut the risk of hospitalization or death by 48% among at-risk outpatients with mild or moderate COVID-19 (7.3% vs. 14.1% for placebo; p=0.0012)...