JOHANNESBURG (Reuters) -South Africa’s health regulator SAHPRA said on Thursday that it had authorised use of Merck’s COVID-19 treatment pill molnupiravir.
SAHPRA added in a statement that Pfizer had submitted an application for its COVID-19 pill, Paxlovid, which was under consideration.
“The authorisation of molnupiravir for compassionate use offers further therapy in the fight against COVID-19,” SAHPRA’s Chief Executive Boitumelo Semete-Makokotlela said.
SAHPRA said molnupiravir was only indicated for use in patients aged 18 years and older. It authorised with conditions the importation of a limited quantity of molnupiravir capsules for a period of six months.
(Reporting by Alexander WinningEditing by Tim Cocks)
