Hundreds in Wales receive antiviral pills to treat Covid
The Welsh Government announced it would trial antiviral pills on December 8
Last updated 27th May 2022
Some people in Wales have been sent pills used to combat Covid-19, as part of the first clinical trial of an antiviral used to treat coronavirus.
Since the trial began on 8 December, around 3,000 people have taken part - and half of those will have taken the antiviral, named molnupiravir.
The study, led by Oxford University, is being delivered in Wales by Public Health Wales, Health and Care Research Wales and Cardiff University.
Experts hope that the tablets will reduce the amount of people hospitalised by the virus, when taken in accordance with vaccines and a booster jab.
Am I eligible for the antiviral pill?
Wales welcomed the announcement that millions of antiviral courses were obtained for a UK-wide study to treat Covid-19, and revealed that the Welsh public are able to take part.
People in Wales can participate if they are over 50, or aged between 18-49 with an underlying health condition, if they test positive for Covid-19 and if they've had symptoms for less than 5 days.
Health and Care Research Wales may contact potential participants if they are eligible and invite them to take part in the first-of-its-kind 'panoramic' study.
Originally made to treat flu, molnupiravir was developed by US drug companies Merck, Sharp and Dohme (MSD) and Ridgeback Biotherapeutics.
It's now the focus of the first clinical trial using an antiviral pill specifically to treat coronavirus.
Two other antiviral pills, favipiravir and ivermectin, have also been tested for their effectiveness against Covid-19.