Equal Access to Merck Covid Pill Imperiled by Prescribing Rules

The potential for Merck & Co’s Covid-19 pill to stave off severe disease could be thwarted by prescription requirements that will make access more difficult for some of the hardest-hit Americans, health researchers say.

The drug gained a key recommendation from the Food and Drug Administration’s advisory committee in a 13-10 vote. Merck’s antiviral drug molnupiravir—if authorized by the agency—would offer for the first time in the U.S. an at-home treatment option for patients with mild to moderate Covid-19 who are at risk of severe disease. The company says it expects its pill to work against the new omicron ...