Experts say this is especially important in view of the drug’s small sample size in clinical trials.
Malaysian Medical Association (MMA) president Dr Koh Kar Chai said any drug that is to be registered, even if only conditionally approved, will need to have undergone due diligence to ensure an acceptable level of safety and efficacy.
“However, MMA views this as a positive move to add another drug in our list of medications to manage Covid-19 patients.
“Regardless of whether we are reopening up or not, there are still a high number of Category 3, 4, and 5 cases who will need treatment,” he said.
According to Merck Sharp & Dohme, the drug’s manufacturer, Molnupiravir cuts the risk of hospitalisation or death in half based on trials conducted among 775 adults with mild-to-moderate Covid-19 symptoms.
“After 29 days, 7% of those who received the drug were hospitalised compared with 14% of those who received the placebo. No deaths were reported in patients who received Molnupiravir while there were eight deaths in patients who took the placebo,” the company said.
On Thursday, it was reported that Malaysia had procured enough “courses of treatment” of Molnupiravir for 150,000 patients who contract Covid-19.
At a press conference in Hospital Kuala Lumpur, health minister Khairy Jamaluddin said Molnupiravir will be made available for those who experience Covid-19 symptoms for over five days, or for patients in the more serious Category 3, 4, and 5 cases.
He added that Molnupiravir will be given to patients for free at public healthcare facilities. Doctors will also be able to prescribe the drug to both vaccinated and unvaccinated patients.
Meanwhile, PT Thomas, executive dean of the Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences at Taylor’s University, said Molnupiravir will come in especially handy as most states begin to move into Phase 3 and Phase 4.
He said there is no drug that is 100% safe and that fewer adverse events will appear as the number and variety of patients treated with the new drug increases.
He added that the drug, touted as a game-changer due to it being the first anti-viral drug developed to fight and kill the Covid-19 virus (SARS-COV-2), will definitely help in controlling new infections.
“Inevitably, people will let their guard down as we reopen. Having this anti-viral drug in our arsenal will definitely help in treating the infected cases,” he said.
Thomas added that though the drug is not 100% effective, there is an opportunity now to treat the cases, especially those in Category 4 and 5.
On whether or not it should be sold at drugstores and pharmacies for the general public, he said: “It will depend on the safety profile of the drug. Initially, it should only be by prescription and only used in hospitals.”
“As we gain more information, then it can be considered for wider distribution but still only upon prescription by a doctor following an accurate diagnosis.”
CLICK HERE FOR THE LATEST DATA ON THE COVID-19 SITUATION IN MALAYSIA