NMRA studying the pills

Sri Lanka has not registered any pill to fight COVID-19 but the National Medicines Regulatory Authority (NMRA) is studying the data, it is learnt.

“No COVID-19 pill, neither the Merck nor the Pfizer, has been approved yet by the NMRA. We have received the dossiers from the relevant companies and had an online discussion with Pfizer recently but they have not submitted the clinical trial data requested by our expert panel. They cannot submit Phase III data as they are still on Phase I and II,” said NMRA Chairman Dr. Rasitha Wijewantha

He said that no timeline with regard to approval can be given as it would depend on the provision of satisfactory data.

Merck, an American multinational pharmaceutical company, has developed ‘Molnupiravir’ which is supposed to be given as soon as COVID-19 is diagnosed in a person who is symptomatic, to prevent severe disease and death.

‘PAXLOVID’ developed by Pfizer, another American pharma company, is also meant for COVID-19 patients reportedly to reduce hospitalization and death by 89%.

Both these pills have not been approved by America’s Food and Drug Administration (FDA), while the United Kingdom has recommended Molnupiravir but has not begun using it yet.