Australia looking at antiviral Covid-19 pill molnupiravir

Australia is in the final stages of pre-ordering a groundbreaking new pill to treat Covid hailed as a pandemic game changer.

Australia has added an extra 15,000 doses of a lifesaving Covid-19 treatment to its national stockpile and is in the final stages of pre-ordering a groundbreaking new pill hailed as a pandemic game changer.

It is understood Australia is in close to finalising a negotiating a pre-purchase agreement with pharmaceutical giant Merck, for supplies of a new antiviral pill, called molnupiravir, found to halve the risk of hospitalisation with severe Covid-19 in one study.

Antiviral drug Molnupiravir has shown promising results treating Covid-19. Picture: Merck & Co, Inc. / AFP

Despite the promising developments regarding Covid-19 treatments, vaccination remains the key focus of health officials as a “first line of defence” against the virus.

“This virus is here to stay,” NSW Health Minister Brad Hazzard said on Sunday.

“We need to make sure that we all do what is necessary … follow the guidance and advice.”

The Merck trial tracked 775 adults with mild to moderate Covid considered at higher risk of severe disease due to underlying conditions such as obesity, diabetes or heart disease.

Of the half given the placebo, 14 per cent were hospitalised, compared to seven per cent of those given molnupiravir.

There were no deaths in the drug group, while there were eight deaths in the placebo group.

Pharmaceutical company Merck has published analysis of a promising trial of their antiviral pill. Picture: Kena Betancur / Getty Images North America / AFP

The pill is designed to introduce errors into the genetic code of the virus, preventing it from spreading in the body.

If Australia pre-orders molnupiravir, it will still have to go through normal Therapeutic Goods Administration approval processes.

Health Minister Greg Hunt said the government would “continue to engage proactively with treatment developers” to provide Australians with access to “safe and effective TGA approved Covid-19 treatments”.

The Daily Telegraph can also reveal a further 15,000 doses of the monoclonal antibody, sotrovimab, which reduces the risk of hospitalisation and death among adults at risk of severe Covid-19 by 79 per cent, have arrived in Australia.

Health Minister Greg Hunt says Australia will eventually have more than 31,000 doses of sotrovimab to treat Covid-19. Picture: NCA NewsWire/Sarah Matray

Mr Hunt said the doses would be provided to states and territories on request.

“Securing additional supplies of sotrovimab will provide access to an important early treatment option,” he said.

“It has the potential to protect Australians from developing serious disease, and reduce hospitalisations and death in people who are at high risk from Covid-19.”

The treatment is approved for adults with mild to moderate Covid-19 who are identified as being at “high risk” of developing severe disease.

Sotrovimab is administered through an intravenous (IV) infusion, which must be done in a health care facility.

Since the treatment was approved by the TGA in late-August, Mr Hunt said Australia had secured more than 31,000 doses, with final deliveries to occur “over the coming months”.

Professor Nick Coatsworth says vaccines are still the best defence against Covid-19. Picture: David Gray/Getty Images

Infectious diseases expert Professor Nick Coatsworth said vaccination remained the “true miracle” of the pandemic, and “nothing” in terms of treatments approached the benefits of the jab.

“Vaccination needs to be the first line of defence for us all,” he said.

“That said it will be very useful to have an oral antiviral which has the potential not just to reduce risk of hospitalisation, but possibly the risk of transmission as well.”

“We will look forward to seeing the results of further studies into molnupiravir.”

A Health Department spokeswoman said the government would not comment specifically on any negotiations with Merck regarding molnupiravir.

“The government expects to announce further investments in new treatments shortly,” she said.

“Many treatments are still progressing through clinical development and where treatments are showing promise the government will make strategic purchases based on the expert medical advice.”