A pill has been created to treat and prevent COVID, but it’s still in the very early stages.
A clinic in Mesa, Arizona is running trials for various companies versions of the pill that could combat the spread of COVID.
Companies involved in trials include Pfizer, Roche, and Merck.
AZ Clinical Trials are seeking volunteers for Merck’s version of the pill.
Dr. Yessica Sachdeva, AZ Clinical Trials Primary Investigator, said they’re looking for individuals who have recently been exposed to COVID from a member in their household.
The plan is to take 4 pills twice a day for 4-5 days if exposed to prevent the virus, or from falling seriously ill if someone already has it.
At the moment, treatments that are approved include vaccines, monoclonal antibodies, and FDA-approved Remdesivir that can be given as inpatient treatment.
These require needles, something the pill would get around.
Dr. Sachdeva says it isn’t a replacement for the vaccine, but another option.
The Mesa office is just one of many across the country currently running trials on the pill.
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