In clinical trials, scientists are developing antiviral drugs in pill form, and they expect to have them on the market within a few months.
Carl Dieffenbach, director of the Division of AIDS at the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, said at least three antiviral drugs for COVID-19 are in clinical trials, with results expected by the end of fall or early winter, the portal NJ.com reported.
“I think that we will have answers as to what these pills are capable of within the next several months,” Dieffenbach is quoted to have told Kaiser Health News.
Dieffenbach said molnupiravir is the top drug being developed by Merck & Co. and Ridgeback Biotherapeutics. Pfizer makes two other drugs, and they are PF-07321332, and AT-527.
Roche and Atea Pharmaceuticals are developing these two drugs, respectively.
These drugs work by preventing viruses from reproducing in human cells, states Kaiser Health News.
Nevertheless, they are still months away from being approved by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Remdesivir is the only antiviral treatment approved by the FDA for COVID-19 so far.
Remdesivir can only be given intravenously to patients sick enough to be hospitalized with the coronavirus, according to the FDA.
