Soon after Merck announced on September 1 it would ask federal regulators for emergency use authorization (EUA) for its auspicious new COVID-19 pill, the accolades began.

Former US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) chief Scott Gottlieb told CNBC the drug was "a profound game-changer." Top infectious disease expert Anthony Fauci, MD, called the early data "impressive. The World Health Organization termed it "certainly good news," while saying it awaits more data.

Merck, partnering with Ridgeback Biotherapeutics on the investigational oral antiviral medicine, molnupiravir, plans also to submit applications to regulatory agencies worldwide, hoping to deliver the first oral antiviral medication for COVID-19. 

 
Interim clinical trial results show that the drug may slash the risk of hospitalization or death by 50% in those with mild-to-moderate COVID.