Korea approves MSD's oral COVID-19 pill for at-risk patients

The Ministry of Food and Drug Safety headquarters in Cheongju, North Chungcheong Province / Courtesy of Ministry of Food and Drug Safety

Korea's drug safety agency granted an emergency authorization of multinational pharmaceutical company MSD's oral drug to treat COVID-19, Wednesday, making it the second such pill to be allowed for use in the country.

Lagevrio is an antiviral pill for the treatment of mild to moderate COVID-19 patients at increased risk of hospitalization or death, according to MSD and the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety.

The ministry convened a panel of inside and outside experts to review the safety and efficacy of Lagevrio, and concluded that the oral pill is needed to deal with the public health crisis.

This is the second oral pill to be used to treat COVID-19 patients in Korea, following U.S. pharmaceutical giant Pfizer's COVID-19 antiviral Paxlovid.

The ministry said Lagevrio will be administered to patients who cannot take Paxlovid, and will not be allowed to be given to pregnant women and patients under the age of 18.

The most common side effects reported during treatment and within 14 days after the last dose of Lagevrio were diarrhea, nausea, dizziness and headache, all of which were either mild or moderate.

Lagevrio, which is available in capsules, should be administered as soon as possible after the diagnosis of COVID-19 and within five days of the onset of symptoms.

The drug is taken twice a day with an interval of 12 hours for five days.

Korea said earlier it will introduce Lagevrio for 100,000 patients this week amid rising demand for such oral COVID-19 medicine.

Currently, Remdesivir, which is developed by Gilead Sciences, is used to treat critically ill COVID-19 patients in Korea.

Also, Rekirona, developed by Korean pharmaceutical giant Celltrion, is used by COVID-19 patients to reduce the risk of the illness progressing in severity.

Both Remdesivir and Rekirona are given intravenously. (Yonhap)