Merck’s Covid-19 Pill Set for Review by FDA Advisory Panel

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration is sending Merck & Co.’s Covid-19 pill to an advisory committee for review, using a public forum to discuss any safety concerns ahead of a potential authorization.

The FDA announced the hearing for Nov. 30, saying it would weigh data on the use of the drug, molnupiravir, to treat mild-to-moderate cases in high-risk adults, confirming an earlier report by Bloomberg News. It’s the first potential therapeutic treatment for Covid-19 that the agency referred to an advisory panel, the FDA said.